the Nile at Giza is the oldest surviving monumental
sculpture on Earth. Carved from a monolithic limestone rock in the form of a colossal Sphinx - lying on the sand lion, whose face, as has long been considered, given a portrait resemblance to the Pharaoh Chephren.The circumstances and exact time of the construction of the Sphinx are still mysteries. Accepted in modern literature, the judgment of ancient authors that its Builder was Khefren (khafra), is confirmed only by the fact that in the construction of the temple at the statue used stone blocks of the same size as in the construction of the neighboring pyramid. In addition, near the Sphinx, archaeologists found in the sand diorite image of Khafra.
The ancient Egyptian name of the Great Sphinx remains unknown. The word " Sphinx "is Greek and literally means" Strangler", which is a reference to the well-known myth about the mystery of the Sphinx. The opinion that this word came to Greece from the ancient Egyptian is unfounded.
The length of the statue-72 meters, height-20 meters; between the front legs once housed a small sanctuary.
