The pyramid of Khafre's complex, including the sphinx Temple, the Great Sphinx, and the causeway to Khafre's mortuary temple. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

During his trip to Egypt, Elisofon visited Jīzah, Ahrāmāt al-, the site of three pyramids from the 4th dynasty (ca. 2613-ca. 2494), built on a rocky plateau near al-Jizah (Giza); one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; built by kings Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) & Menkaure (Mycerinus). [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. The photograph depicts the Great Sphinx standing guard before the pyramid of Khafre. The Sphinx Temple and Khafre's valley temple sit side by side, in a neat line. They also share the same megalithic style of masonry. The north shoulder of Khafre's causeway is the line of the south wall of the sphinx ditch. These are some of the reasons why Khafre is thought to be the builder of the Great Sphinx. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.