Sphinx

 was the form of a recumbent lion with the head of a royal personage, appearing in Egypt in the Old Kingdom (2575–2134  B.C.E.). Originally called  hu, or “the hewn object,” the sphinx became Hun-Harmakhu, “the hewn Harmachis (Horemakhet).” This divine being was also addressed as “Horus on the Horizon” and as Sheshep-ankh, “the living image” of the god Atum. Mod- ern Egyptians herald the sphinx as Abu Hol, “the Father of Terror.”

The Great Sphinx, on the  GIZA plateau, measures approximately 70 feet from base to crown and bears the face of  KHAFRE (r. 2520–2494  B.C.E.). Measuring some 150 feet in length, the Great Sphinx is a crouching lion with outstretched paws and a human head, clad in the nemes, the striped head covering reserved for pharaohs in the early eras. The actual stone of the figure dates to 5000–7000 years ago geologically, according to some sci- entists, and may have been an original rock formation carved to resemble the sphinx form. The Great Sphinx was also supposed to hold the repository of ancient Egyp- tian wisdom, including the lost Book of THOTH. Modern repairs and excavations have revealed no such treasures.

The INVENTORY STELA, now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, describes the construction of the Great Sphinx. Another stela, erected between the paws of the sphinx by TUTHMOSIS IV (r. 1401–1391 B.C.E.), gives an account of his act of clearing the area of sand and of restoring the sphinx itself. The stela, 11 feet, 10 inches tall and seven feet, two inches wide, was placed at the site to commem- orate Tuthmosis IV’s dream. He was on a hunting expedi- tion on the plateau as a prince and rested beside the sphinx. To his amazement, he heard the figure complain about its state of disrepair. Tuthmosis IV was promised the throne of Egypt if he cleared away the sand and rub- ble, even though he was not the heir at the time. He ful- filled the command of the sphinx and became pharaoh. 

 Sphinx in the form of Hatshepsut

Other noted sphinx figures include the Alabaster Sphinx, said to weigh 80 tons and discovered in the ruins of the city of MEMPHIS, the oldest capital of Egypt. The face on this particular sphinx is believed to be that of AMENEMHET II (r. 1929–1892 B.C.E.).

The Sphinxes of  TANIS are unique versions of this form dating to the Twelfth Dynasty. They were created for AMENEMHET III (r. 1844–1797 B.C.E.) out of black granite. Their faces are framed by the manes of lions rather than the striped nemes. Remarkably striking, these forms were unique to Tanis but were used by later pharaohs.  HAT- SHEPSUT (r. 1473–1458  B.C.E.) was depicted as a Tanis sphinx. Smaller versions of the sphinx were used to form annexes between temples in THEBES (modern LUXOR). In some instances these sphinxes were ram-headed, then called  criosphinx. Such figures lined the avenue between shrines in Thebes.

Luxor - Karnak Temple

Fayoum