What is a sphinx in ancient myths?

A sphinx is a mythical creature from Egypt with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It is also a type of cat without fur.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a statue of a reclining lion with a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile, near modern-day Cairo, in Egypt. It is the largest monolith [single stone] statue in the world - it is approximately 250 feet long, 20 feet wide and 65 feet high.