Sphinx de Sésostris III

Middle Kingdom
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 111
Le sphinx égyptien allie un corps de lion à une tête humaine, et souvent, comme ici, à une queue de taureau. Il représente la puissance royale dans sa forme la plus formidable ; on y recourait donc souvent pour protéger les entrées des palais et des temples. Ce sphinx est unique en ce que le sculpteur a tiré profit des veines de la pierre pour mettre en valeur le corps du lion. La tête souligne le caractère redoutable du pharaon Sésostris III. Sous la barbe rituelle est gravée la façade d’un palais (serekh) comportant le nom dit d’Horus du roi (DIVIN DE FORMES) et son nom de trône (BRILLANTES SONT LES FORCES DE VIE [kas ] DE RÊ ).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Titre: Sphinx de Sésostris III
  • Période: Moyen Empire, XIIe dynastie
  • Date: v. 1878–1840 av. J.-C.
  • Aire géographique: Thèbes, Karnak
  • Technique: Gneiss
  • Dimensions: 42,5 x 29,3 x 73 cm
  • Crédits: Don d’Edward S. Harkness, 1917
  • Accession Number: 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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