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Egyptian Artifacts

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III

ThisΒ blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β is in exquisite condition.

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III at the MET

This piece is possibly from the model of a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, but its function isn’t actually known. Despite its small size, the sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β is definitely a standout in Gallery 119 at the MET!

A sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is the combination of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› (the body) and a human (the head 𓁢𓏺).  Sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ with the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— on the forehead. He also has a false beard in his chin. This is a very typical way for a pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to be depicted in statuary because this style represented the power and royalty of the pharaoh π“‰π“‰». 

The hands of the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, but there is no inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– to say which god π“ŠΉ/goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to.  

This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty – New Kingdom (c. 1390–1352 B.C.E.).