Throughout the time of the New Kingdom of Egypt (1570-1069 BCE), the Sphinx was known by the Egyptians as Horemakhet (Horus in the Horizon) plus a cult grew up across the statue associating it with the god Horus. A 'cult' in historical Egypt needs to be recognized together the strains https://www.luxreisen.net/blog/wo-steht-die-sphinx-in-%C3%A4gypten