The Great Sphinx of Giza is a monumental limestone statue of a reclining sphinx — a mythical creature with a human head and lion's body — carved directly from the bedrock of the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile. The oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt, it measures 73 meters (240 feet) long from paw to tail, 20 meters (66 feet) high, and 19 meters (62 feet) wide at its rear haunches. Facing east toward the rising sun, the Sphinx is part of the Memphite Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands near the Great Pyramid of Khafre. Gates investigated the monument as part of his exploration of the Giza complex, examining debates about its age, the enigmatic destruction of its nose, and what lies beneath the plateau.
Sphinx carved during Egypt's Old Kingdom, likely during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu or Khafre
Napoleon's Egyptian campaign; contrary to myth, his troops did not destroy the Sphinx's nose
Sphinx designated part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Memphis and its Necropolis)
Josh Gates investigates the Sphinx and Great Pyramid complex for Expedition Unknown
The Great Sphinx remains one of Egyptology's most studied yet enigmatic monuments. Archaeological evidence and the consensus of Egyptologists date the Sphinx to Egypt's Old Kingdom, specifically during the reign of either Pharaoh Khufu (c. 2590–2566 BC) or Khafre (c. 2558–2532 BC). The monument was sculpted directly from the limestone bedrock of the Eocene-aged Mokattam Formation, and scholars believe its face was carved to represent either Khufu or one of his sons — pharaohs Djedefre or Khafre — though the person in whose likeness the Sphinx was carved remains genuinely disputed within mainstream Egyptology.
A minority hypothesis, sometimes called the water-erosion hypothesis, argues for a far earlier construction date based on weathering patterns observed on the monument's body. This view remains outside the mainstream archaeological consensus, which attributes the weathering to wind, sand, and humidity over millennia rather than rainfall from a much earlier epoch. The monument has undergone multiple restoration campaigns throughout history, the most recent involving replacement of deteriorated limestone blocks around the base, which complicates analysis of the original surface.
The destruction of the Sphinx's nose is often attributed to Napoleon's troops in popular myth, but examinations of the face have shown evidence of deliberate defacement with rods or chisels, likely occurring centuries before the 1798 French campaign. The circumstances and exact date of this vandalism remain unknown. Gates' investigation of the Sphinx as part of his Great Pyramid episodes explored these enduring questions, consulting with experts on-site about what is known, what remains debated, and what archaeological work beneath the plateau has revealed about the monument's context within the broader Giza complex.
The Sphinx stands as a testament to Old Kingdom engineering and artistry, its scale and precision achieved without modern tools. Whether it served as a guardian figure for the nearby pyramid complex, a divine representation of the pharaoh, or some combination of symbolic purposes continues to be examined by Egyptologists. Gates' episodes approached these questions with appropriate deference to mainstream archaeology while acknowledging the genuine mysteries that remain after more than 4,500 years.
The Great Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt, carved from a single outcrop of limestone bedrock rather than assembled from blocks.
The monument measures 73 meters (240 feet) long — roughly the length of three-quarters of a football field.
Contrary to popular myth, Napoleon's troops did not destroy the Sphinx's nose during the 1798 Egyptian campaign; evidence shows deliberate defacement with chisels occurred much earlier.
The Sphinx was sculpted from the Eocene-aged Mokattam Formation limestone, meaning the stone itself formed from ancient seabeds roughly 40–50 million years ago.
The Great Sphinx is accessible to visitors as part of the Giza Plateau complex, located on the outskirts of Cairo. Visitors can view the monument from designated pathways around its base, though climbing on the statue itself is prohibited to preserve the fragile limestone. The site is generally open year-round, but it's advisable to check current access conditions and local advisories before visiting.
Giza (part of Greater Cairo), Egypt — the Sphinx stands within the modern city limits on the plateau's eastern edge.
The cooler months from October through April offer the most comfortable conditions for visiting the Giza Plateau, as summer temperatures can exceed 40°C (104°F). Early morning visits help avoid both midday heat and the largest tour groups.
UNESCO World Heritage Site (Memphis and its Necropolis, 1979)
Kingdom of Kush Pyramid Tombs
Ancient Egyptian pyramid sites investigated by Gates, representing neighboring civilizations influenced by Egyptian monumental architecture
Egypt
Gates has investigated multiple archaeological sites throughout Egypt, making it a recurring focus of Expedition Unknown
Alexandria
Major ancient Egyptian city investigated by Gates, representing another center of Pharaonic civilization and Greco-Roman Egypt
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia