Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 11: Great Sphinx of Giza

by Ancient Egyptian Artists (photo Hamish2k)

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a monumental sculpture of a sphinx found in Giza, Egypt. A 'sphinx' is a fantastical creature that merges a human head and a lion's body. The Great Sphinx of Giza has the face of Pharaoh Khafre, and it is believed to have been built during his reign. Like the bust of Nefertiti, the Sphinx is made from limestone. Workers carved the Sphinx out of an existing rock formation. The image also shows tourists milling around the site and a pyramid pointing toward the white clouds and blue sky.

Vocabulary

Sphinx: A beast of myth with a human head and a lion's body.
Giza: The third-largest city in Egypt.
Monumental Sculpture: A large sculpture.
Pharaoh: A ruler in ancient Egypt.
Tourist: A person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.
Pyramid: A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top, especially one built of stone as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.

Concepts

1. The artist or artists who created this work were ancient Egyptians.
2. 'Ancient Egyptian art is the painting, sculpture, architecture and other arts produced by the civilization of ancient Egypt in the lower Nile Valley from about 3000 BC to 30 AD.' (Wikipedia.org)
3. Egypt is a country in North Eastern Africa. Study the shape of Egypt on the map below.

4. Zoom in and find Egypt on the map of Africa below.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Sphinx
• Tourists
• Pyramid
• Limestone
• Lion's Paws
• Human Head of Stone
• Face of Pharaoh Khafre

Activity 2: Narrate the Monumental Sculpture

• After studying the sculpture, narrate the scene shown in the sculpture aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 19 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the people in the photograph?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The people in the photograph are tourists and guides.

1 / 6

Question 2

Which monuments are in the photograph?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The photograph shows the Sphinx and a pyramid.

2 / 6

Question 3

What is the setting of the photograph?

3 / 6

Answer 3

The setting is the site of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt.

3 / 6

Question 4

What type of sculpture is featured in the lesson?

4 / 6

Answer 4

The sculpture type is a monumental sculpture, or a very large sculpture.

4 / 6

Question 5

What type of rock was used to make the Great Sphinx?

5 / 6

Answer 5

The artists and workers used limestone to make the Sphinx.

5 / 6

Question 6

How did artists and workers make the Great Sphinx?

6 / 6

Answer 6

The artists and workers carved the Sphinx out of an existing rock formation.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the people in the photograph? The people in the photograph are tourists and guides.
2. Which monuments are in the photograph? The photograph shows the Sphinx and a pyramid.
3. What is the setting of the photograph? The setting is the site of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt.
4. What type of sculpture is featured in the lesson? The sculpture type is a monumental sculpture, or a very large sculpture.
5. What type of rock was used to make the Great Sphinx? The artists and workers used limestone to make the Sphinx.
6. How did artists and workers make the Great Sphinx? The artists and workers carved the Sphinx out of an existing rock formation.

References

'Great Sphinx of Giza.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Image of Sphinx Taken by Hamish2k.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt.Giza.Sphinx.02.jpg. n.p.

'Art of ancient Egypt.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.