The Great Sphinx of Giza, Cairo, Egypt

Bain, Jack (1966) The Great Sphinx of Giza, Cairo, Egypt. [Image]

Abstract

Jack and Isabel Bain from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia did a nine month round the world post retirement trip in 1966.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human, and the body of a lion.[1] Facing directly from west to east, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre.[2]

The original shape of the Sphinx was cut from the bedrock, and has since been restored with layers of limestone blocks.[3] It measures 73 m (240 ft) long from paw to tail, 20 m (66 ft) high from the base to the top of the head and 19 m (62 ft) wide at its rear haunches.[4] Its nose was broken off for unknown reasons between the 3rd and 10th centuries AD.

The Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and one of the most recognisable statues in the world. The archaeological evidence suggests that it was created by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of Khafre (c. 2558–2532 BC).[5][6][7] (Wikipedia)

Additional Information

Item Type: Image
Source Media: 35 mm slide
Collection: Bain/O'Gorman
Sub-Collection Title:

Around the world in 1966 - Egypt

Date: February 1966
Keywords: The Great Sphinx of Giza - Cairo - Egypt
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Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2022 05:04
Last Modified: 17 Feb 2024 03:30
Copyright Owner: Queensland University of Technology
Copyright Statement: You are free to use this image without permission. Please attribute Queensland University of Technology
Location:
CountryState or RegionCity or TownPlace
EgyptGizaCairoSphnix
Location 29.975278, 31.137778
URI: https://digitalcollections.qut.edu.au/id/eprint/6682
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