Description:

Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. late 4th century to 2nd century CE. A fascinating mold made ceramic plaque, made from a dark red pottery with tiny white inclusions, and featuring a dramatic image of a sphinx. She is depicted in profile with her head turned to face forward, her animal body perched atop a plinth, her wings curled upward from her back. Although the Great Sphinx of Giza is certainly the most famous, sphinxes have a large place in Greek mythology as well - probably because of the intermixing of Egyptian and Greek culture via trade routes across the Mediterranean. The Greek version of the creature has the head of a human female, the body of a lioness, the wings of an eagle, and a serpent's tail. Famously, the sphinx asks a riddle of travelers to the city of Thebes, which is solved by Oedipus. The Greek version of the sphinx is also sometimes associated with Hera, wife of Zeus. Size: 4" W x 3.6" H (10.2 cm x 9.1 cm)

Provenance: private Alabama, USA collection; ex-Roy Green collection

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#148663

  • Condition: Intact, with great preserved details and light deposits on the surface.

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August 22, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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