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Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textDetail showing modern masonry work at the rear; The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textClose frontal view of the head; The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Valley Temple of Chephren
No full textDetail in the Sixteen Pillared Chamber, showing one of the 16 single block pink granite pillars (from Aswan) and architrave blocks of the same material; In general, however, the complex of Khafre is much better preserved than that of Khufu: parts of the mortuary temple survive, while the valley temple has been substantially reconstructed, and the entire length of the causeway can be traced. The valley temple at the end of the causeway, beside the Sphinx, is an austerely beautiful building, square in plan, with twin entrances, battered exterior walls and a central T-shaped hall lined with monolithic piers which supported a flat roof; the contrast in colour between their pink granite casing and the polished white calcite floor is highly effective. In places the temple's granite facing was carved with hieroglyphic inscriptions in sunk relief displaying great mastery of the hard stone; they are among the earliest known examples of this technique. The spaces between the piers may have been occupied by the magnificent seated hardstone statues of Chephren [Khafre] found in the temple (e.g. Cairo, Egyp. Mus., JE 10062); fragments of 23 similar statues were found in a pit in an antechamber. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textDetail showing modern masonry work on the south face; The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textContext view, looking due north, with tombs in the foreground; The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textClose view of the head, showing proper right headdress and ear (viewer's left); The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Great Sphinx at Giza
No full textGeneral view of the north face; The pyramid complex of Chephren, Cheops' son and successor (reigned ca. 2520-ca. 2494 BCE), measures 214.5 x 214.5 x 143.5 m and is partly enclosed by a natural limestone escarpment which was utilized for carving out some of the subsidiary burials of the royal family and courtiers. In addition to the usual components of pyramid, mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple, the complex included an innovative feature in the form of the Great Sphinx. This is a monumental sculpture (l. 80 m, h. 21 m) in the form of a human-headed lion wearing a royal headcloth. Constructed from a natural outcrop supplemented with limestone blocks, it lies north of the causeway of Chephren and adjacent to his valley temple. It was originally painted, and a secondary figure, of which almost no trace remains, seems to have been carved on the chest. Although the Sphinx formed an integral part of Chephren's pyramid complex, its exact significance is unknown. In front of it are the ruins of a small temple built of granite-faced limestone. During the decline of the necropolis in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2008-ca. 1630 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1630-ca. 1540 BCE), the temple became engulfed by sand. Tuthmosis IV (reigned ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE) erected a red granite stele (in situ) recording his clearing of the temple and enclosed the area around the Sphinx with a wall into which stelae dedicated to various deities were set, among them some indicating that the Sphinx may have been a pilgrimage centre and oracular shrine. In the New Kingdom the Sphinx became associated with Harmachis, a manifestation of the sun-god, and with Hauron, a Canaanite deity worshipped in Egypt from the Second Intermediate Period. Over time, the Sphinx suffered considerable erosion and attempts were made to restore it in the Ptolemaic period (304-30 BCE). In the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE) the temple was completely covered by sand, which also engulfed the figure itself until it was cleared by Giovanni Battista Caviglia in 1816. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Valley Temple of Chephren
No full textFrontal view of the north lateral entrance; In general, however, the complex of Khafre is much better preserved than that of Khufu: parts of the mortuary temple survive, while the valley temple has been substantially reconstructed, and the entire length of the causeway can be traced. The valley temple at the end of the causeway, beside the Sphinx, is an austerely beautiful building, square in plan, with twin entrances, battered exterior walls and a central T-shaped hall lined with monolithic piers which supported a flat roof; the contrast in colour between their pink granite casing and the polished white calcite floor is highly effective. In places the temple's granite facing was carved with hieroglyphic inscriptions in sunk relief displaying great mastery of the hard stone; they are among the earliest known examples of this technique. The spaces between the piers may have been occupied by the magnificent seated hardstone statues of Chephren [Khafre] found in the temple (e.g. Cairo, Egyp. Mus., JE 10062); fragments of 23 similar statues were found in a pit in an antechamber. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Valley Temple of Chephren
No full textKhafre's Mortuary Temple, frontal view, looking west, showing the remains; In general, however, the complex of Khafre is much better preserved than that of Khufu: parts of the mortuary temple survive, while the valley temple has been substantially reconstructed, and the entire length of the causeway can be traced. The valley temple at the end of the causeway, beside the Sphinx, is an austerely beautiful building, square in plan, with twin entrances, battered exterior walls and a central T-shaped hall lined with monolithic piers which supported a flat roof; the contrast in colour between their pink granite casing and the polished white calcite floor is highly effective. In places the temple's granite facing was carved with hieroglyphic inscriptions in sunk relief displaying great mastery of the hard stone; they are among the earliest known examples of this technique. The spaces between the piers may have been occupied by the magnificent seated hardstone statues of Chephren [Khafre] found in the temple (e.g. Cairo, Egyp. Mus., JE 10062); fragments of 23 similar statues were found in a pit in an antechamber. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008