Sphinx of Taharqo
A granite sphinx blending Egyptian and Kushite royal iconography.
The Sphinx of Taharqo is a granite gneiss statue of a sphinx bearing the face of Taharqo, a Nubian king who ruled as one of the 25th Egyptian Dynasty (about 747–656 BC) monarchs of the Kingdom of Kush. Now housed in the British Museum in London, the statue is significantly smaller than the Great Sphinx of Giza, measuring 73 centimeters long, and is noted for its blend of Egyptian and Kushite elements.
- material
- Granite gneiss (sandy grey granite)
- dimensions
- 73 centimeters long
- period
- 25th Egyptian Dynasty (about 747–656 BC)
- subject
- Taharqo, Nubian king and pharaoh of Kush and Egypt
- discovery
- Excavated at Temple T, Kawa (now Gematon), Nubia (now Sudan), in the 1930s
- current_location
- British Museum, London
Lore & Background
Taharqo was a Nubian king of the 25th Dynasty, succeeded by his nephew Tantamani, who was the last Nubian ruler of Egypt. His reign lasted from 690 BCE, when he succeeded Shebitqo (the son of Piye and brother of Shabaka), until his death in 664 BCE. He was the son of Piye and Abar and father to his daughter, Amenirdis II. As a ruler of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, Taharqo initiated a golden age for his new kingdom, worshipping the Egyptian god Amun, building pyramids and temples in the Egyptian model, and having his officials write in Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Reader's Guide
The Sphinx of Taharqo is a masterpiece of Kushite art that exemplifies the cultural and political fusion of Nubian and Egyptian traditions during the Third Intermediate Period. The lion body is rendered in classic Egyptian style, while the face is a portrait of Taharqo, and the headdress bears two uraei, the Nubian symbol of kingship. Hieroglyphs on the statue identify it as a portrait of the great king, with his name appearing in a cartouche on the chest. The statue was excavated at Temple T near the Temple of Amun at Kawa, construction of which began in 683 BCE by Taharqo. It was selected as the twenty-second object in the BBC Radio 4 series A History of the World in 100 Objects, highlighting its significance as a symbol of Kushite power and artistry.
Did You Know?
- The Sphinx of Taharqo is 73 centimeters long, while the Great Sphinx of Giza is 73 meters long.
- The headdress on the sphinx bears two uraei, the Nubian symbol of kingship.
- The statue was excavated at Temple T, in the area east of the south-eastern part of the Temple of Amun at Kawa, during the 1930s.
- Taharqo's name appears in a cartouche on the sphinx's chest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sphinx of Taharqo?
It is a small granite gneiss sculpture of a wingless sphinx carved with the likeness of the Nubian pharaoh Taharqo, who reigned during the 25th Dynasty of Egypt. The piece measures just 73 centimeters in length, making it a far more intimate object than the colossal Giza monument.
Where can I see the Sphinx of Taharqo today?
The statue is currently on display in the British Museum in London. It was brought there after being unearthed during 1930s excavations at the ancient temple site at Kawa in what is now Sudan.
Who is Taharqo, and why does his face appear on the sphinx?
Taharqo was a Nubian king who ruled as pharaoh over both Kush and Egypt during the 25th Dynasty, roughly between 747 and 656 BC. The sphinx was carved to represent his royal authority, blending Kushite and Egyptian conventions of kingship into a single portrait.
Where was the Sphinx of Taharqo originally discovered?
Archaeologists recovered it in the 1930s from Temple T at Kawa, a Nubian site near present-day Gematon in southern Sudan. Its findspot in a temple context suggests it served a devotional or royal ritual function in its original setting.
What makes the Sphinx of Taharqo different from the Great Sphinx of Giza?
Beyond its modest 73-centimeter size, the Taharqo sphinx is distinguished by its sandy grey granite gneiss material and its deliberate fusion of Kushite and Egyptian artistic traditions. It reflects a period when Nubian rulers claimed the throne of Egypt, so the iconography carries a dual cultural identity absent from the older Giza monument.
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