This is another archaic grave statue, this time a sphinx. The import of this creature from the Asia came during the orientalizing period and even as they to a great extent disappear from ceramics they keep on being popular in this sort or context. This one is dated to around 560 BC.
Do you mean that the idea of a sphinx, or this particular object itself, was imported from Asia? Is it known where this sphinx was erected?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the things hanging down along the sides of the head give it a quite Egyptian look?
Sorry, my bad, I was referring to the idea of the sphinx, not the statue presented here.
ReplyDeleteThe Egyptian inspiration is, as you suggest, there - just as in the case of the other stone art from the period (as the Kouros's and Kores).