We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Sphingen in Ägypten und in der Levante: Variationen eines vielseitigen Motivs.
- Authors
Fischer, Erika
- Abstract
The motif of the sphinx originated in Egypt and became widely distributed throughout the ancient Near East and the Aegean. In dealing with its history and changing appearances we can reconstruct mutual intercultural contacts.This paper explores two classical variants of the sphinx and the context of their representation: the calm sphinx resting on its legs and the violent one that tramples on human beings or dominates other creatures.The Egyptian prototypes are discussed in due detail to clarify some interesting features that were imitated or modified by Levantine artisans. Moreover, a fragmentary representation on a wall painting from Tell Sakka - hitherto interpreted as an anthropomorphic image - should rather be reconstructed as sphinx.The study assesses possible media of contact and points out further lines of inquiry.
- Subjects
SPHINXES (Mythology); MYTHICAL animals; CLASSICAL mythology; ARTISANS; GREAT Sphinx (Egypt)
- Publication
Altorientalische Forschungen (0232-8461), 2013, Vol 40, Issue 2, p220
- ISSN
0232-8461
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1524/aof.2013.0013