Statue of a Sphinx
Statue of a Sphinx
Published 2017-08-15T11:52:21+00:00
In Greek tradition, a Sphinx has the head of a human, the haunches of a lion, and sometimes the wings of a bird. It is mythicised as treacherous and merciless. Those who cannot answer its riddle suffer a fate typical in such mythological stories, as they are killed and eaten by this ravenous monster. This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of Oedipus. Unlike the Greek sphinx, which was a woman, the Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man (an androsphinx). In addition, the Egyptian sphinx was viewed as benevolent, but having a ferocious strength similar to the malevolent Greek version and both were thought of as guardians often flanking the entrances to temples.
Date published | 15/08/2017 |
Title | Statue of a Sphinx |
Date | ca 540 B.C. |
Period | Archaic Greek |
Medium | Parian marble |
Artist | Unknown artist |
Place | National Archaeological Museum of Athens |