Sphinx

guardian · Egypt · North Africa

The Egyptian sphinx is a guardian of sacred ground, carved with the head of a king or god upon the body of a lion. From the Great Sphinx of Giza to the ram-headed criosphinxes lining temple avenues, it stood watch over tombs and processional ways. It embodies royal power, the horizon god Horemakhet, and the silent strength of the desert edge.

Open in the interactive archive →