Sphinx of King Senwosret is dated back to 1878–1840 B.C. and is from Upper Egypt, belonging to the Middle Kingdom period. The Sphinx makes an imposing structure with its impressive mane and sturdy posture, guardians against evil. Lions have been associated with royalty even since prehistoric times. It was discovered in Thebes and is made of the block of grained anorthosite gneiss from Nubian quarries 1.
Modern historical science divides Egyptian dynasties as the Old Kingdom, the New Kingdom and the Late Period that are separated by Intermediate Periods. Senusret III is one of the best-demonstrated kings of the New Kingdom and the best known of the Middle Kingdom 2.The Sphinx, with the body of a lion and head of the reigning king symbolically, combined the power and strength of royalty. The creature shows a symbolic representation of King carrying the power and strength of the lion. The crouching position of the impressive stone sculpture stands for guardianship and looks very regal. The proportions of the Sphinx are perfect, and it rests on a block of stone carrying lines. While the standing sphinx was a conqueror for the Egyptians, a crouching sphinx was meant to guard the sacred places 3.
The head of the Sphinx belongs to Senwosret III of Dynasty 12, and his features are very distinctive, except for the nose that is broken. The face of the pharaoh carries a concerned and serious look while his eyelids are heavy. He wears a headdress that is symbolic of kingship, and the names is covered by a cobra, which is the protectors of the king as goddess Udjo 4. The headdress and the stylized pattern represent the lion's mane
The body of the lion is strong and muscular. The forelegs and hind legs and the curved tail create a palpable tension in the body. The creature seems to be alert and waiting to pounce. There are long strands created on the mane in the front and overlapping tufts on the back at the shoulders. There are patterns on the stone and the body of the lion so as to blur the body of the lion with the human head. Just below the beard is a palace facade topped by a Falcon 5.
If one looks at the squatting feline body and the Royal bull's tail and how the veins of the stone are underlining the body, it seems that the sculptor was trying to meet the boundaries between nature and the animal world. It is seen that during the reign of Senwosret III, the sculptors were trying to get free of the dominating idealism in the representations of the pharaoh. They were moving towards naturalism and explored the look of flesh and bone on the ruler's face.
____________________________________1 "Senwosret III as a Sphinx." 2016. metmuseum.org. (April 8, 2016). http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/5441862 George Steindorff, The Pyramid of Senwosret I (Freer Gallery of Art Occasional Papers, 1950), 28.3 Senwosret III as a Sphinx." 2016. metmuseum.org. (April 8, 2016).4 "Sphinx of Senwosret III." 2008. bible-history.com. (April 8, 2016). http://www.bible-history.com/ancient_art/met/egypt/Sphinx_of_Senwosret_III.html5 Senwosret III as a Sphinx." 2016. metmuseum.org. (April 8, 2016).
Cyril Aldred, the great historian, calls the Sphinx of King Senwosret as the 'haunting portrait of an autocrat 6. The somber expression of the pharaoh could be because of many brutal wars he fought. The sculptor has used great skills and workmanship to create the Sphinx. The massive headdress cancels the merging point of the human and the animal. The sculptor has focused on the deep, thoughtful face of the pharaoh which is a realistic portraiture with a superb finish. There is a great long beard appropriate for the rank of the king. “Divine of forms “and the throne name are carved on the breast of the lion 7. Sphinxes were special creatures that showed the head of a king or queen on the body of a lion, and were symbolic of the joining of human intellect and feline power 8. The sculpture shows the importance of pharaohs for the Egyptians.
____________________6“"Sphinx of King Senwosret III." 2016. joanannlansberry.com. (April 8, 2016). http://www.joanannlansberry.com/fotoart/met-muzm/sen3sphx.html6 Dieter Arnold, The Pyramid of Senwosret I (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1988), 261.8 “Sphinx of Senwosret III." 2008. bible-history.com. (April 8, 2016). http://www.bible-history.com/ancient_art/met/egypt/Sphinx_of_Senwosret_III.html
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arnold, Dieter, The Pyramid of Senwosret I (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1988), 261.
"Sphinx of King Senwosret III." 2016. joanannlansberry.com. (April 8, 2016). http://www.joanannlansberry.com/fotoart/met-muzm/sen3sphx.html
"Senwosret III as a Sphinx." 2016. metmuseum.org. (April 8, 2016). http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544186
Steindorff, George, The Pyramid of Senwosret I (Freer Gallery of Art Occasional Papers, 1950), 28.
"Senwosret III as a Sphinx." 2016. metmuseum.org. (April 8, 2016). http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.9.2/
"Sphinx of Senwosret III." 2008. bible-history.com. (April 8, 2016). http://www.bible-history.com/ancient_art/met/egypt/Sphinx_of_Senwosret_III.html
