Final answer:
The Great Sphinx is the oldest and largest surviving sculpture, portraying the power of Pharaoh Khafra in ancient Egypt. Similar symbolic structures like Japan's Tōdaiji Temple and its colossal bronze Buddha, as well as vast Buddhist sculptures and temples in China, also conveyed the commanding presence of their patrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau is recognized as the oldest and largest surviving sculpture in the world. With the visage of Pharaoh Khafra, believed to be merged with the body of a lion, it represents a mythical creature in ancient Egyptian culture. Carved from bedrock, the human-headed lion's form is an iconic symbol signifying the power and might of the Pharaoh, and its construction is thought to align with the pyramid of Khafra, ensuring its significance as part of the pyramid complex.
Elsewhere in Asia, the concept of large-scale sculptures and edifices as representations of power was also prevalent. For example, the world's largest wooden structure, Tōdaiji (Great Eastern Temple), situated in Nara, Japan, features a massive gilded bronze Buddha, and was built to demonstrate the imperial power and architectural advancement of the period. Similarly, in China, large Buddha statues and numerous Buddhist temples conveyed the influence of the rulers over the land.