Gratefully built with ACNLPatternTool
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.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item
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
Accession Number: 74.51.2855
The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.
