Great Sphinx of Giza

What makes it special

The Sphinx shows a king with the body of a lion. Egyptian sphinxes gave the king a lion's body to show his power.

It dates from the reign of Khafre, in the 4th Dynasty. His Valley Temple, which led into his pyramid complex, stands beside it, and the walk to the Sphinx takes you through it.

Because the figure was carved from the bedrock, nothing in it was stacked or hauled into place. The pyramids on the plateau were built from blocks. The Sphinx was shaped out of the plateau itself.

From the platform, look down between the front paws for a tall upright slab. That is the Dream Stela, a monumental stela set up between the paws.

Expect the Sphinx to look smaller in person than in photographs, which tend to distort its proportions.

Visiting

Start on the small rise on the approach, for the classic view of the Sphinx with the pyramids behind. Then show your ticket at the doorway to the Sphinx area and walk down into the Valley Temple of Khafre.

You cross the temple and leave by its far side onto a sandy path. The path brings you to the viewing platform on the right-hand side of the Sphinx.

From the main platform you stand about 5 to 7 metres from the figure, close enough to pick out the paws and the face.

Guided or on your own

Take a guide for what the stone cannot tell you: the history and symbolism of the carving, which a guide explains as you stand at the platform. The route itself needs no help, one path through the temple to the Sphinx.

If you want one, book a government-licensed Egyptology guide ahead for the whole plateau, not for the Sphinx alone.

Tips

Make the Sphinx your first stop of the day rather than your last. Guided tours finish their plateau visits here, so the platform is at its fullest when they arrive, while the rest of the plateau stays spread out.

Once you reach the main platform, look for the small side area beside it. It gets you a little closer to the Sphinx than the main viewing spot does.