In front, that is to the east of the sphinx, and immediately north of the Valley Temple of Khefren, a temple was built. Geological data suggest that this temple was built of blocks that were quarried from the same rock as the Sphinx, indicating that both were built at approximately the same time.

Because of its position, it is clear that it was specifically dedicated to the Great Sphinx, but since we lack any contemporary texts, we know as good as nothing about its actual purpose and use.

This lack of contemporary documents may perhaps be explained by the fact that the Sphinx Temple was never completed: the exterior was left without the usual granite casing. Left unfinished, it is possible that no priests ever served and no actual cult ever having been performed in this temple.

The earliest traces of a cult for the Great Sphinx are dated to the 18th Dynasty, when a small temple was erected to the north of the original Sphinx Temple. At this time, the Sphinx was seen as an image of the sun god and although it is tempting to believe that this was also the original meaning of the Sphinx and its temple, there is no evidence to support that.
 

Front view of the Great Sphinx, with the upper part of the so-called "Dream Stela" of Thutmosis IV in the foreground.

The Sphinx and its badly preserved temple, seen from above and behind.
Source: Lehner, Complete Pyramids, p. 128.

The structure of the temple is relatively simple. An almost rectangular building with a dual entrance in its east façade, its main area is an open courtyard, which like the courtyard in Khefren's Mortuary Temple, has a number of huge pillars in front of which 10 collosal statues of the king were positioned.

The temple has two sanctuaries, both along the temple's central axis. Both sanctuaries were built in the back of a recessed bay, opposite each other: one in the east and one in the west. Their orientation makes it likely that the sanctuaries were dedicated to the rising (east) and setting (west) sun.
 

Map of the Sphinx and the Sphinx Temple.
Source: Lehner, Complete Pyramids, p. 129.

Although the temple was built right in front of the Great Sphinx and it is clear that the two are connected, the sphinx's function in the cult that was intended for the temple, is not entirely clear.

One hypothesis would be that, located in the west and thus in the direction of the western sanctuary, it symbolised the setting sun. As such, it may have been related to the funerary cult of the deceased king, whose death and burial may, even during the 4th Dynasty, have been compared with the setting of the sun.

Another hypothesis would have the sphinx be the representation of the king, coming from the realm of the dead to bring offerings to the rising sun, which it faces.

In both cases, however, the funerary cult of the deceased king appears to have been linked with the daily motions of the sun.