Though many think the colossal size effects this, some scholars believe that this is because the Sphinx was meant to be seen from a frontal view and not from the side. Others think that the head may have been re-carved several times in attempts to perfect the representation of the king. Other effects of the large scale are the distortion of the Sphinx s facial features and the lack of detail. The medium of this monument also affects its style. The native rock, out of which the Sphinx is carve, has been a factor in its condition.
Many large fissures run through the limestone.
These may have been formed after construction due to deterioration or they could have been natural fissures already in the rocky outcrop before the Sphinx was built. Regardless of when these fissures appeared, they are caused by the nature of the rock itself. Because of the limestone s soft nature, the Sphinx has not weathered well over time. There is much supporting evidence to argue that the Great Sphinx of Giza can be associated with the sun in some way. The Great Sphinx is seen by some scholars as a depiction of the sun-god looking into the sanctuaries below him in the Giza necropolis.