Sphinx von Sesostris III.

Middle Kingdom
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 111
Der ägyptische Sphinx besteht aus einem Löwenkörper und einem Menschenkopf sowie häufig – wie hier – einem Stierschwanz. Er steht für königliche Macht in ihrer höchsten Vollendung und wurde häufig zum Schutz von Palast- und Tempeleingängen verwendet. Dieser Sphinx ist wegen der Art, in der der Bildhauer die Maserung des Steins zur Betonung des Raubkatzenkörpers genutzt hat, besonders. Der Kopf ist ein furchteinflößendes Abbild des Gesichts von Pharao Sesostris III. Unter dem zeremoniellen Bart findet sich eine Palastfassade (serekh) die sowohl mit dem sogenannten Horusnamen des Königs (GÖTTLICHER DER FORMEN) als auch seinem Thronnamen (LEUCHTEND SIND DIE LEBENSKRÄFTE [kas] VON RE) beschriftet ist.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Titel: Sphinx von Sesostris III.
  • Zeitraum: Mittleres Reich, 12. Dynastie
  • Datum: ca. 1878–1840 v. Chr.
  • Geografie: Theben, Karnak
  • Medium: Gneis
  • Dimensionen: 42,5 x 29,3 x 73 cm
  • Anerkennung: Schenkung von Edward S. Harkness, 1917
  • Akzession Nr.: 17.9.2
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Cover Image for 804. Kids: Sphinx of King Senwosret III

804. Kids: Sphinx of King Senwosret III

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If you wanted to know what someone was like, you might look at his or her face. You can learn a lot about people from looking at their expression, noticing the look in their eyes. Do they look stern or kind? Happy or sad? This statue shows Senwosret III, who ruled Egypt almost four thousand years ago. If you had to describe the expression on his face, what would you say? He looks serious, even grim, as if he might be thinking about all his responsibilities. The statue of Senwosret has the head of man, but the body of a lion. Do you know what that kind of figure is called? It’s a sphinx. Crouching sphinxes like this one often guarded sacred places, and pairs of sphinxes guarded entrances to important buildings. As you walk through these galleries, see how many other sphinxes you can find.

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