Sphinx of Memphis

The Sphinx of Memphis is a stone sphinx located near the remains of Memphis, Egypt. The carving was believed to take place between 1700 and 1400 BCE, which was during the 18th Dynasty.[1] It is unknown which pharaoh is being honored and there are no inscriptions to supply information. The facial features imply that the Sphinx is honoring Hatshepsut, or Amenhotep II, or Amenhotep III.[1]

The Sphinx of Memphis

Discovery

The Alabaster Sphinx was discovered in 1912, when an affiliate from the British School in America spotted a uniquely carved object jutting out of a sand hill. It was so far in the season that excavation was useless, but a year later in 1913 further digging displayed that the object was a Sphinx's tail.[2]

Composition

The Sphinx of Memphis is also referred to as the Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis, or the Calcite Sphinx. It is the largest calcite statue ever discovered.[2][3]

The minerals alabaster or calcite in the sphinx's names refer to the yellowish white, soft stone it is carved from; archaeologists and stonemasons have different criteria from mineralogists for distinguishing the very similar minerals calcite and alabaster.[4] Calcite is a simple and common material that has been mined from the earth for centuries.[4] This natural stone was considered beautiful, and in ancient Egypt was believed to have a mystical connection to the Sun.[4]

Physical attributes

With a length of 8 m (26 ft) and a height of 4 m (13 ft), the Sphinx of Memphis is considerably smaller than the more recognized Great Sphinx of Giza. At those dimensions, it is estimated to weigh around 90 tons.[1] It is supported by a foundation that makes it appear to rise out of the sand.[5] Particularly unusual about the Sphinx of Memphis are the striations on its left side, which are uncommon on Egyptian monuments.[6]

Other information

As years passed from the sphinx's creation, people ravaged Memphite temples and the Sphinx of Memphis is one of the few masterpieces that survived this pillaging.[7] During its time this statue was also displayed near a temple in honor of Ptah. Ptah was one of the Egyptians' world-creator gods.[8]

References
  1. "Alabaster Sphinx". InterCity Oz (Interoz.com). 1996. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  2. Davis, Charles H.S., Dr. (January–February 1912). "Archaeological notes". The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal. 34 (1): 235. [¶] The alabaster sphinx recently discovered near Memphis is believed ...{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Alabaster Sphinx in Copenhagen". Stay.com. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  4. "Calcite". Glimmerdream. 2003. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  5. "Alabaster Sphinx". Phouka Pages. Egyptian Journey 2003: Photos: Memphis. 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  6. Lutz, Dick; Lutz, Mary (2007). Exploring Egypt: A traveler's view of an ancient civilization. DIMI Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0931-62544-2. ISBN 0931-62544-0
  7. Shaw, Ian (1997). "Chapter 5 – The settled world". In Silverman, D.P. (ed.). Ancient Egypt. Oxford, UK / New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 75. ISBN 0-19-521952-X. The New Kingdom calcite sphinx is one of the few monuments to have survived medieval pillaging of Memphite temples ...
  8. "Memphis [was one of] the most ancient of Egypt's capital[s]". Love Egypt. Retrieved 20 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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