In both Egyptian and Greek cultures, the Sphinx holds a great deal of both importance and symbolism. Many often imagine the Great Sphinx, located by the pyramids of Giza when they think of the Sphinx, but the mythical creature has a great deal of other significances. In Egyptian culture, the sphinx is a symbol of royalty, having the body of a lion and the head of usually a pharaoh. In Egypt, the sphinx represented and symbolized royalty, strength, and courage (Hadingham). One of the most famous stories of the Sphinx in Egyptian culture is that of the “Prince and the Sphinx.” This legend depicts a young prince Thutmose having the Great Sphinx come alive in a vision to tell him his destiny as a great pharaoh (Steindorff). This representation of the sphinx is commonplace in Egyptian culture, and the view of Sphinxes in Egypt is generally a positive one.

Over in Greece, the mythology regarding sphinxes is different in many ways. The word sphinx actually has its roots in Greek culture, as the word when translated means “the strangler.” This correlation is an accurate one, because in Greek mythology the sphinx is viewed as a much more sinister creature. Unlike the regal, Egyptian sphinxes, Greek sphinxes are seen as a great deal more monstrous. Extremely intelligent, yet also brutal, the Greek version of the sphinx is most widely known for its appearance in the Greek epic “Oedipus,” in which a sphinx guards the entrance to the city of Thebes. In order for outsiders to enter the city, they must solve the sphinx’s riddle. Those who get it right are allowed to enter, while those who fail are either strangled or eaten (Murock). The sphinx’s role in Greek culture is defined by its monstrous qualities.

Though the two share a similar physical appearance, the Greek and Egyptian versions of the Sphinx are vastly different. While the head of Egyptian sphinxes is most often that of a male Pharaoh, Greek sphinxes are almost always female (“The Great Sphinx”). While the origins of the Egyptian sphinx have been lost to history, the Greek sphinx is said to be a daughter of the monster Echidna, who is also the parent of various other monsters such as the three-headed dog, Cerberus (Murock).

The Sphinx is an extremely important symbol of Egyptian culture both during the height of the Egyptian empire and now in modern times, as monuments such as the Great Sphinx of Giza had stood the test of time. The Sphinx’s fame in both cultures is a testament to its ancient history.

The drawing above is of the Great Sphinx of Giza, as drawn by French explorer and writer André Thévet in his book Cosmographie de Levant in 1556. The drawing depicts the head of the sphinx protruding from the ground, the body of the monolith seemingly swallowed up by the sands. This drawing is interesting because it not only provides a look into what the sphinx looked like during the middle Ages, but also the depiction of the monolith. The features of the sphinx in Thevet’s drawing differ greatly from the actual features of the sphinx, namely features such as the unnatural and inaccurate hair of the sphinx and its more European features. The position of the Sphinx suggests that the structure had been forgotten about over time, or at least left to decay and be swallowed by sands. Since excavated, the head of the sculpture must have been an unexplained sight for explorers. The ethnicity of the head is also an interesting feature, as it clearly seems to have features more closely associated with Europeans. Thevet’s reasons for drawing the Sphinx in this manner are unknown.