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The sphinxes of this gravestone, while modeled on Classical Greek prototypes, also reveal an Egyptian influence with their pose of hind legs tucked under their bodies. During the Archaic and the Classical periods, pairs of opposing sphinxes were common on funerary monuments but also may appear as guardians of heroons or shrines.
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Title: Limestone funerary stele with antithetical sphinxes
Period: Classical
Date: ca. 475–450 BCE
Culture: Cypriot
Medium: Limestone
Dimensions: Overall: 13 1/2 × 22 1/4 × 5 3/4 in. (34.3 × 56.5 × 14.6 cm)
Classification: Stone Sculpture
Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Object Number: 74.51.2855
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