What did the Sphinx originally represent?
Most likely: it was made as the king, with a human head on a lion's body, as part of his pyramid complex; it was…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
Where it stands
Four answers have been proposed. It was made as the king, with a human head on a lion's body, as part of his pyramid complex; it was… leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.
Answers 4
History
- Lehner puts forward: it was made as the king, with a human head on a lion's body, as part of his pyramid complex; it was…
- Lehner: the head wears the nemes headdress with a uraeus, royal insignia of the Fourth Dynasty.For: It was made as the king, with a human head on a lion's body, as part of his pyramid complex; it was…
- Lehner: the head is small in proportion to the body, which all sides accept.For: It was carved as a lion or lioness, perhaps the goddess Mafdet, and later given a king's head.
- Lehner: lehner records the head's nemes and uraeus as part of the original carving.Against: It was carved as a recumbent jackal, Anubis, guarding a moat-like enclosure, and its head was recut as a…
- Temple & Temple puts forward: it was carved as a recumbent jackal, Anubis, guarding a moat-like enclosure, and its head was recut as a…
- Temple & Temple: temple argues the body's long, flat back and the enclosure's shape fit Anubis and a moat.For: It was carved as a recumbent jackal, Anubis, guarding a moat-like enclosure, and its head was recut as a…
- Reader puts forward: it was carved as a lion or lioness, perhaps the goddess Mafdet, and later given a king's head.
- Asked on this site