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Esfinge de Senusret III

Middle Kingdom
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 111
La esfinge egipcia combina un cuerpo de león y una cabeza humana, a menudo—como aquí—con una cola de toro. La esfinge representaba el poder regio en su modalidad más extraordinaria y por ello solía destinarse a la protección de las puertas de palacios y templos. Esta esfinge es única en el uso que el escultor hizo de las vetas de la piedra para realzar las curvas del cuerpo felino. La cabeza representa al faraón Senusret III con expresión severa. Bajo la barba ceremonial, se delinea la fachada de un palacio (serekh) en cuyo interior figuran el nombre Horus del faraón (DIVINO DE FORMAS) y su nombre de trono (RESPLANDECIENTES SON LAS FUERZAS VITALES [kas] DE RE).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Título: Esfinge de Senusret III
  • Periodo: Imperio Medio, Dinastía XII
  • Fecha: ca. 1878–1840 a. C.
  • Geografía: Tebas, Karnak
  • Material: Gneis
  • Dimensiones: 42,5 x 29,3 x 73 cm
  • Crédito: Donación de Edward S. Harkness, 1917
  • Número de inventario: 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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