Sphinx stairway — Henry Salt 1817

An illustration by Henry Salt of the monumental Roman period staircase that once led down to the foot of the Great Sphinx of Giza. The illustration dates to 1817 during excavations by Giovanni Battista Caviglia. The staircase, to the east of the Great Sphinx, was completely removed in the 1920-30s by Émile Baraize. The removal of the steps led to the discovery of the ancient Egyptian "Sphinx Temple" below them.

Source image: Internet Archive.

Return to Image Gallery 2 — Images of the Great Sphinx from the early 19th Century