sphinx
sphinx. Ancient Egyptian sculptured figure of a recumbent lion's body with a male human head (androsphinx), often with the Nemes headdress. Sphinxes in the Egyptian style were often made by the Romans, and the form was revived in the Renaissance, though by then they were female as often as male, and were commonly used in Neo-Classical architecture, especially during the Egyptian Revival. Other types include the Egyptian criosphinx (ram-headed) and hieracosphinx (hawk-headed), and the seated winged Greek sphinx on upright front legs, with the head and breasts of a woman.
Bibliography
J. Curl (2005);
Demisch (1977);
Dessenne (1957);
Roullet (1972)
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sphinx
