Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part I)

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself. 

This magnificent sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a representation of the 12th Dynasty Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 has very distinctive facial features, so he is very easy to spot in Middle Kingdom art. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 is wearing the characteristic nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴 and false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸, which are both signs of kingship 𓇓𓇌. 

While this is not a professional term, to me, Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 looks like a “sad and tired old man,” which is how I distinguish him from statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. This depiction of a pharaoh demonstrates how in the Middle Kingdom, some of the art took a more realistic approach, instead of the typical idealistic approach. Usually, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and people were shown at their best, not how they actually looked. However, this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 shows a detachment from idealistic depictions. 

This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is in a crouching position, which to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 meant that it was a guardian of a sacred place, such as a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or an important building. This is why rows or lines of sphinxes have been found at various temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 around Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭, and therefore the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, was using his strength 𓌀 and might to protect these sacred places! 

Here is a link to Part II!