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Sphinx of Hatshepsut

New Kingdom
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 117
The reconstructed sections of this sphinx have been cast from an almost identical, but more complete companion piece now in Cairo. The two small limestone sphinxes may have been on either side of the entrance to the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. The head of this sphinx differs markedly from Hatshepsut’s large sphinxes in which the human head wears the royal nemes-headcloth (see 31.3.166 and 31.3.167). Instead, this example was fashioned according to a type of sphinx bet known from the Middle Kingdom during the reign of Amenemhat III (ca. 1859-1813 B.C.). In this sphinx, the only human element is the face which is surrounded by a lion's mane. Remains of pigment show that the face was painted yellow, the color used for women in Egyptian Art.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sphinx of Hatshepsut
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Senenmut Quarry, MMA excavations, 1926–28
  • Medium: Limestone, plaster
  • Dimensions: L. 106.7 × W. 33 × H. 63.5 cm, 196 kg (42 × 13 × 25 in., 432 lb.); H. (of base): 18 cm (7 1/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1931
  • Object Number: 31.3.94
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Head from an Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut, Limestone, paint
Head from an Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Seated Statue of Hatshepsut, Indurated limestone, paint
Seated Statue of Hatshepsut
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Statuette of Taweret, Limestone, paint
Statuette of Taweret
ca. 1550–1504 B.C.
Shabti box and shabtis of members of the Sennedjem family, Painted wood, limestone, and ink
Shabti box and shabtis of members of the Sennedjem family
ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
Votive stela of Userhat, Limestone, paint
Votive stela of Userhat
1327–1295 BC

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