The sphinx of Amenemhat III
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What are sphinxes?
The development of the word sphinx started with the ancient Egyptian word Ssp anx which means the living image. It combines between human head as a sign of intelligence and wisdom and between the body of a lion as a sign of strength. Another word for sphinx is Hr m Axt meaning Horus in the Horizon and Hr m Axty meaning Horus of the Horizon. Horus was later identified with the Greek god Houl and the sphinxes were later called iw Houl meaning the place of god Houl. This word may have been the origin of the Arabic word Abu El Houl.
Types of sphinxes:
|
Period |
Description |
Example |
|
Old Kingdom |
Body of a lion and head of a man wearing nms head dress |
Sphinx in Giza |
|
Middle Kingdom |
Body and manes of a lion with human face |
Sphinxes of Amenemhat III |
|
New Kingdom |
Body and manes of a lion, face and hands of a human holding nw jars |
Hatshipsut |
|
|
Ramp headed sphinxes related to god Amen |
Connectin Karnak and luxor temples |
Background:
There are several sphinxes for king Amenemhat III. They were excavated by Marriette I 1863. They are made out of grey granite. Concerning the identification of the sphinxes there are two opinions. The first is explained in the table:
|
Name and description |
Position |
|
Amenemhat III original maker |
Temple of Bastet (cat goddess) at Tel Basta |
|
First userper: nHsy Hyksos king erased Amenemhat’s name and put his which was also erased |
Avaris |
|
Second userper: Ramses II,19 Dynasty inscribed his name on the base |
pr ra msw |
|
Third userper: mr n pth, 19th Dynasty inscribed his name on the shoulder |
pr ra msw |
|
Fourth userper: Psusennes I, 21st Dynasty inscribed his name between the paws |
Tanis |
The second opinion is unlikely. It says that the sphinxes belong to the Hyksos but the distinct facial features of Amenemhat III proved that they belong to him.
The statue:
The king is represented as a strong and young lion with the face of the king surrounded by the manes of a lion. He is represented with a false royal beard and the ureas on his forehead but they are broken. The ureas has two curly turns which is a feature of king Amenemhat III. The facial features of the king along with the details of the body of the lion are very well represented in details.
The hieroglyphic inscriptions:
Between the paws belonging to king Psusennes I:
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nfr nTr bA spA xa n niwt mry imn nsw nTrw mry imn ra anx di Dt
The good god, the shining star of the city beloved of Amen, king of the gods, beloved of Amen Re, giving life forever.
On the shoulder belonging to king mr n pth:
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nswt bity mry ra bA n imn
king of Upper and Lower Egypt the soul of Re, beloved of Amen
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Htp Hr mAat mr n pth
Who satisfies the face of ma’at, beloved of ptah
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di anx mi ra
Given life as Re
On the base belonging to Ramses II:
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Hr bA nxt mry mAat nb Hb sd mi it.f pth
Horus the powerful bull beloved of ma’at like his father ptah
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nswt bity wsr mAat ra stp n ra
The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, stability is the existence of Re, chosen by Re
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sA ra rams mry imn
Born of Re (Ramses) beloved of Amen
On the other side:
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nswt bity wsr mAat ra stp n ra
The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, stability is the existence of Re, chosen by Re
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sA ra rams mry imn
Born of Re (Ramses) beloved of Amen
On the back of the statue:
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