- Sphinx of Thutmose III at The Metropolitan Museum
- Sphinx of Thutmose III at Cairo Museum
- Bronze Sphinx of Thutmose III at Louvre Museum
- A History of Sphinxes in Ancient Egypt
Sphinx of Thutmose III : sands of time whisper tales about ancient Egypt, where powerful pharaohs ruled and awe-inspiring monuments were built. Among these marvels stand the enigmatic sphinxes, creatures with the body of a lion and a human head or a ram. These underworld guardians and symbols of royalty have captivated imaginations for millennia.
In this article, we will delve into the details of the most significant statues and sphinxes that represent the great Pharaoh Thutmose III. This pharaoh is considered to be one of the most researched and successful kings in ancient Egyptian history, both in terms of achievements and political success.
Sphinx of Thutmose III at The Metropolitan Museum
Crafted from incredibly hard stone, this statue showcases a detailed image of King Thutmose III. The transition from his human head to the powerful body of a lion is seamlessly hidden by his nemes headdress and a stylized lion’s mane that drapes across his chest like a bib.
An inscription running down the chest, now partially damaged, identifies him as “the Good God Menkheperre, beloved of [Amun].” Interestingly, the name of the god Amun was deliberately erased during the reign of Akhenaten in the 18th Dynasty and never restored.
An inscription carved down the chest of the statue reveals the king’s title: “the Good God Menkheperre, beloved of [Amun].” Interestingly, the name of the god Amun was deliberately erased at a later point, during the reign of Akhenaten in the 18th Dynasty. This erasure was never reversed.
Sphinx of Thutmose III at Cairo Museum
Carved from granite as hard as grain (granodiorite), this statue portrays King Thutmose III not as a human, but as a powerful sphinx. The majestic creature reclines upon a symbolic representation of Egypt’s vanquished foes – the Nine Bows.
This awe-inspiring sculpture once stood proudly amidst the grand Karnak Temple Complex near Thebes. However, in 1903, it was unearthed alongside a treasure trove of artifacts – statues, stelae, amulets, and more – buried deep within a hidden courtyard, now known as the “courtyard of the cachette,” located near the seventh pylon of the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak.
Archaeologists believe temple priests, during the Ptolemaic Period, conducted a ritual burial of a vast collection of artifacts. This action aimed to alleviate the growing problem of overcrowded spaces within the temple, caused by centuries of accumulating statues and personal offerings.
Over time, the temple filled with statues honoring past figures. While each addition seemed minor, collectively they began to crowd the space, hindering new construction. Temple caretakers faced a dilemma: they couldn’t simply discard these revered dedications.
Their solution? To create hidden chambers beneath the courtyard, where the older statues were carefully placed, remaining within the sacred grounds but tucked away from sight.
Interestingly, the Cairo Museum boasts an even earlier sphinx statue. This one depicts Amenemhat III, a Middle Kingdom pharaoh who ruled around 1860 BC.
The statue we’ll be focusing on, however, comes from a later period – the New Kingdom’s mid-18th Dynasty, specifically the reign of Thutmose III (1479-1425 BC). This particular sphinx originated from the Courtyard of the Cachette at the Temple of Amun-Re in Karnak and now resides in the Egyptian Museum.
Bronze Sphinx of Thutmose III at Louvre Museum
A tiny treasure from a bygone era: the Bronze Sphinx of Thutmose III. Crafted during the 18th Dynasty of Egypt (around 1479-1425 BCE), this statuette depicts the powerful pharaoh as a sphinx. Adorned with symbols of royalty, it may have served a practical purpose, perhaps as part of a larger object or even a lock.
Acquired by the Louvre in 1826, this fascinating artifact now resides in display case 4 of the Sully Wing’s Room 637 (formerly 24), waiting to be discovered by curious visitors.
This intricately crafted statuette isn’t just a statue – it’s a symbol of power adorned with gleaming gold inlays. The sphinx depicts the Pharaoh reclining on the “Nine Bows,” which represent Egypt’s traditional enemies brought to their knees.
On the front, a clever message unfolds. Using the lapwing bird as a hieroglyph, it reads “all the people give praise.” Here, the basket symbol represents “all,” the lapwing “the people,” and the star “praising” – a hidden message revealed through these picture-like symbols. To further emphasize the Pharaoh’s power, Djed pillars, symbols of dominion, adorn the sides of the statuette.
A History of Sphinxes in Ancient Egypt
While the statue of Thutmose III showcases a powerful ruler, the concept of the sphinx itself stretches back much further in Egyptian history. The very first sphinx statues originated during Dynasty 4 of the Old Kingdom, over a thousand years before Thutmose III’s reign.
The most famous example is the Great Sphinx of Giza, built by Khafre, the pharaoh who also constructed the second pyramid at Giza around 2500 BC.
Interestingly, the earliest sphinx statue housed in the museum’s collection actually predates Thutmose III by several centuries. It depicts Senwosret III, a Middle Kingdom pharaoh who ruled around 1850 BC.
