TheGiza Plateau (Arabic:هضبة الجيزة) is a limestoneplateau inGiza, Egypt, the site of theFourth DynastyGiza pyramid complex, which includes the pyramids ofKhufu,Khafre andMenkaure, theGreat Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex. It forms the northernmost part of the 160 km² (62 sq mi)Pyramid Fields in theWestern Desert edge of the Nile Valley that are part of theUNESCOWorld Heritage Site,Memphis and its Necropolis.^[1]

The plateau is elevated approximately 60 metres (200 ft) above sea-level.^[2]

The Giza pyramid complex (مجمع أهرامات الجيزة), also called the Giza necropolis and also known as the Pyramids of Giza or Egypt, is the site on the Giza Plateau in Giza, that includes theGreat Pyramid of Giza, thePyramid of Khafre, and thePyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and theGreat Sphinx of Giza. All were built during theFourth Dynasty of theOld Kingdom ofAncient Egypt, between 2600 and 2500 BC. The site also includes several cemeteries and the remains of a workers' village.^[3]

The Giza pyramid complex consists of theGreat Pyramid (also known as the Pyramid of Cheops orKhufu and constructed c. 2580 – c. 2560 BC), the somewhat smallerPyramid of Khafre (or Chephren) a few hundred metres to the south-west, and the relatively modest-sizedPyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinos) a few hundred metres farther south-west. TheGreat Sphinx lies on the east side of the complex. Current consensus among Egyptologists is that the head of the Great Sphinx is that ofKhafre. Along with these major monuments are a number of smaller satellite edifices, known as "queens" pyramids, causeways pyramid temples, valley temples, harbours, three cemetery fields and a workers' town.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is alimestone statue of a recliningsphinx, amythical creature with the head of a human, and the body of a lion. Facing directly from west to east, it was carved out of a low lying spur of the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza. The face of the Sphinx appears to represent thepharaoh Khafre.

The original shape of the Sphinx was cut from thebedrock, and has since been restored with layers oflimestone blocks. It measures 73 m (240 ft) long from paw to tail, 20 m (66 ft) high from the base to the top of the head and 19 m (62 ft) wide at its rear haunches. Its nose was broken off between the 3rd and 10th centuries AD. The Arab historian al-Maqrīzī, writing in the 15th century, attributes the loss of the nose to Muhammad Sa'im al-Dahr.^[4]

The Sphinx is the oldest knownmonumental sculpture in Egypt and one of the most recognisable statues in the world. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was created by ancient Egyptians of theOld Kingdom during the reign of Khafre (c. 2558–2532 BC).

Modern Giza is accessed by two main roads.^[5] The road from the north leads to Khufu's pyramid; the other to near theSphinx's front court, from the east. They cross theNile River from the east bank and follow the causeway westward. Dominating the plateau and running in a southwest diagonal through the site are the three pyramids of thepharaohsKhufu,Khafre, andMenkaure.

The Giza Plateau Mapping Project (GPMP) was undertaken in 1984, "an effort to better understand the social and economic forces that supported pyramid construction."^[6]

Mark Lehner and his team produced an accurate map of the natural and cultural features of the entire Giza Plateau. Survey data suggested to Lehner possible locations for the city of the pyramid builders, so in 1988 the mission of the GPMP was extended to excavate and survey those areas.^[6]

• Topographic Map of the Giza Plateau

29°58′34″N31°07′58″E / 29.97611°N 31.13278°E /29.97611; 31.13278