Gîza, El (or al-Jīzah)
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The Great Sphinx at Gîza, Egypt. Dating to the 3rd millennium BC, the Great Sphinx consists of the body of a lion and the head of a king or god – a legendary creature that symbolized strength and wisdom. It is carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau and stands 58 m/189 ft in height. The monument has been buried by sand over the centuries and repeatedly dug out.
City and governorate of Egypt, situated on the west bank of the Nile to the southwest of Cairo, of which it forms a suburb of the greater metropolitan area; population of city (1996 est) 2,221,900, and governorate (1996 est) 4,779,900. It has textile, footwear, brewing, and film industries. It is noted for its archaeological sites; 8 km/5 mi to the southwest are the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkure, and the Great Sphinx.
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