The Great Sphinx

Centuries of history lie at the feet of the Great Sphinx at Giza. And along with the passage of time many myths and legends have come to be associated with this magnificent statue that has a man's head and a lion's body. Standing some 66 feet high and 240 feet long, the Sphink's head measures 19 feet from forehead to chin and each paw extends 56 feet forward from the body.

***** The sheer size of the Sphinx and its impressive form made many believe that it had been placed in its position as guardian of the pyramids by the gods themselves. A powerful symbol in ancient Egypt, the lion represented strength and courage. It was also thought to be supreme guardian of the kings as it sometimes accompanied them into battle - its sheer physical presence and form was symbolic of protecting the troops. The Sphinx therefore was a combination of two symbols: a lion god and a human god (the king of pharaoh) rolled into one statue. Some say that the Great Sphinx at Giza bears the face of the ruling pharaoh at the time of construction: Chephren.

*****But the Sphinx isn't limited to Egypt, it was also found in ancient Phoenician, Syrian and Greek societies. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx was a monster with the head and breasts of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. Greek legend has it that the Sphinx ate all the travellers who tried to enter the city Thebans unless they were able to answer the riddle it put before them - "What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?"

*****Most travellers couldn't answer the riddle and were quickly devoured until a man called oedipus solved the ridde - "The four limbs as a baby, walks upright on two as an adult, and walks with the aid of stick in the old age."

*****Hearing the correct answer, the Sphinx is said to have killed himself. Once this happened, the Thebans made oedipus their king.

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