The Great Sphinx of Giza — a lion’s body with a human head, gazing east across the desert beside the pyramids — is one of the most recognisable monuments on earth. Carved from a single ridge of limestone, it is the largest monolithic statue in the world, some 73 metres long and about 20 metres high, and it is generally dated to the Old Kingdom, around 2500 BCE. For all its fame, plenty about it remains genuinely mysterious. Here are ten lesser-known facts.
1. The builder is uncertain. The Sphinx carries no inscription naming its maker. The leading theory credits the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre, whose pyramid stands directly behind it, but firm proof has never been found.
2. It once had a beard. A ceremonial stone beard was added to the statue; surviving fragments are now split between the British Museum in London and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
3. The nose was not broken by Napoleon. The popular tale blaming a Napoleonic soldier is a myth — drawings made long before Napoleon’s 1798 campaign already show the nose missing.
4. It was a place of worship. Between the paws stands the “Dream Stela,” set up by the pharaoh Thutmose IV, and the site was long a focus of religious ritual tied to the sun.
5. It spent most of history buried in sand. For thousands of years the Sphinx lay covered up to its neck; it was only fully excavated in stages, the last great clearance coming in the 1930s.
6. Talk of a hidden chamber persists. Rumours of secret rooms beneath the paws have circulated for decades, but no concealed chamber has ever been confirmed.
7. It has been restored for millennia. Repair work stretches back to ancient times — Thutmose IV cleared the sand more than 3,000 years ago — and continues today to hold back erosion.
8. It was once brightly painted. Traces of pigment show the Sphinx was originally coloured; faint red still clings to the face in places.
9. It faces the sunrise. The Sphinx looks due east toward the rising sun, which scholars link to the ancient Egyptian solar cult.
10. Its exact age is still debated. While the mainstream view places it in the Old Kingdom, a few researchers argue the erosion patterns hint at an even older origin — a debate that keeps the monument’s mystery alive.
Visiting the Sphinx
The Sphinx sits on the Giza plateau on the western edge of Greater Cairo, alongside the pyramids and the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened nearby in 2025. The nearest airport is Cairo International (CAI), about 30–45 minutes away by taxi; you can also reach Giza by metro, train or bus from central Cairo. Many nationalities can obtain an Egyptian e-visa online or a visa on arrival, but check current requirements before you travel. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds, wear comfortable shoes, and bring sun protection and water.
FAQ
Who built the Great Sphinx?
Most likely the pharaoh Khafre, around 2500 BCE, though no inscription confirms it and the question is still debated.
What happened to its nose?
It was lost long before Napoleon — the story blaming his soldiers is a myth. Drawings predating his campaign already show the nose gone.
How do I get there?
The Sphinx is on the Giza plateau just outside Cairo; fly into Cairo International (CAI), then take a taxi, the metro or a train to Giza.
