The Great Sphinx was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2558–2532 BCE), part of the grand funerary complex that includes the Great Pyramid of Giza. Egyptologists believe it was carved to serve as a divine guardian of the necropolis, its leonine body symbolizing royal power and its human face reflecting the wisdom of the pharaoh.
The name “Sphinx” is actually of Greek origin — the ancient Egyptians called it Hor-em-akhet (Horus on the Horizon), linking it to the sun god Ra-Horakhty. Later, during the New Kingdom era, Pharaoh Thutmose IV erected the famous Dream Stele between the Sphinx’s paws, recounting how the god appeared to him in a dream and promised him the throne in exchange for clearing the sand that had buried the statue.
Over the millennia, the Sphinx has suffered significant erosion from wind, sand, and human activity. The nose — famously missing — is believed to have been deliberately destroyed sometime between the 3rd and 10th centuries CE. Extensive restoration efforts have been carried out since the late 19th century to preserve this irreplaceable monument for future generations.
