ID: 700008620 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700008620	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1 2

Great Sphinx (rock-cut sculpture; unknown Ancient Egyptian artists; possibly for the pharaoh K...; 4th Dynasty, ca. 2500 BCE; Pyramids of Giza (Maţrūḩ, Miṣr, Africa, World, T...; )

Note: The Sphinx is an embodiment of kingship, placed to the south of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The Great Sphinx at Giza dates to the reign of Chephren. The Giza sphinx became known as Hor-em-akhet (‘Horus on the horizon’): Horus was the royal god, and the horizon was the Giza plateau. During the New Kingdom a cult was established for the Giza sphinx. A small temple was built between its paws, and stelae were set up by Amenophis II (reg ca. 1426 - ca. 1400 BCE) and Tuthmosis IV (reg ca. 1400-ca. 1390 BCE). The Sphinx is a monolith carved into the bedrock of the plateau which also served as the quarry for the pyramids and other monuments. The nummulitic limestone consists of layers of widely differing quality, offering unequal resistance to erosion, which is a significant characteristic of the appearance of the Great Sphinx today. Located in: Giza, Egypt

Titles:

Great Sphinx (preferred,C,U,LC,English-P,U,N)

Sphinx at Giza (C,U,English,U,U)

أبو الهول (C,U,Arabic,U,U)

Great Sphinx of Giza (C,U,undetermined,U,U)

Abū al-Haul (C,U,undetermined,U,U)

Hor-em-akhet (H,U,undetermined,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

rock-cut sculpture [300265274] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Visual Works (hierarchy name), visual works (works), <visual works by material or technique>, sculpture (visual works), <sculpture by technique>)

Classifications:

sculptures (preferred)

architecture

Creation Date: 4th Dynasty, ca. 2500 BCE

Creator Display:

unknown Ancient Egyptian artists; possibly for the pharaoh Khafre [preferred,VP]

artists unknown Ancient Egyptian (Ancient Egyptian cultural designation) [500202838]

patron Khafre‏, King of Egypt (Ancient Egyptian king, 4th Dynasty, flourished 26th century BCE) [500372635]

Locations:

Current: Ahrāmāt al Jīzah [7022063] Maţrūḩ (governorate), Egypt (nation), Africa (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Address Note: 29°58′31″N 31°08′16″E

Display Materials: limestone

	limestone [300011286]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, rock (inorganic material), sedimentary rock, <sedimentary rock by composition>, carbonate rock)

Dimensions: h. 20.0 m, l. 73.5 m

Cultures:

Ancient Egyptian (preferred)

Style/Period/Group/Movement:

	Fourth Dynasty (Egyptian) [300020283] (preferred,period)
	.....(Styles and Periods Facet, Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), <styles| periods| and cultures by region>, Early Western World, Mediterranean (Early Western World), Egyptian (ancient), Egyptian periods, Old Kingdom (Egyptian))

General Subject:

religion and mythology (preferred)

human figures

animals

architecture (isness,undetermined)

Specific Subjects:

	sphinx [300375739]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), legendary beings) (AAT)

	kingship [300404762]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), <culture and related concepts>, culture-related concepts) (AAT)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: carvings and sculptures

..... Built Works

.......... Built Works by class: religious, ceremonial, and funerary structures

............... Chephren's Pyramid Complex

Sources and Contributors:
Great Sphinx	........ [VP,BWR]
	........ Janson, History of Art (1986)
	........ Grove Art Online (2008-)
	........ Library of Congress Authorities online (2002-) sh 95005527
	........ BWR database (2010-) BWR3791415
Sphinx at Giza	........ [VP]
	........ Grove Art Online (2008-)
أبو الهول	........ [VP]
	........ Archaeology Magazine [online] (2000-)
Great Sphinx of Giza	........ [VP]
	........ Encyclopedia Britannica Online (2002-)
Abū al-Haul	........ [VP]
	........ Archaeology Magazine [online] (2000-)
Hor-em-akhet	........ [VP]
	........ Grove Art Online (2008-)

Subject: ....... [VP,BWR]

....................... BWR database (2010-) BWR3791415

....................... BWR-01 Data Reconciliation (2020-2021)

....................... BWR SSID (2010-) 3791415

....................... BWR DSSC ID (2010-) 7239

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Janson, History of Art (1986)
	..... Grove Art Online (2008-)
	..... BWR database (2010-)