Tanite sphinxes
Seven sphinxes once misattributed to Hyksos rulers, now linked to Amenemhat III.
Seven ancient sphinx statues, unearthed at Tanis in the Nile Delta, are known as the Tanite or Hyksos sphinxes. Early scholars believed they depicted Hyksos rulers—foreign kings who controlled parts of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period—but modern attribution points to the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III. These statues stand out for their unusual appearance: high cheekbones, and a distinctive mane-like feature that complements, rather than replaces, the traditional nemes headcloth. Over time, various rulers reinscribed the sphinxes, including the Hyksos king Apepi and later pharaohs like Ramesses II, a common practice of claiming earlier royal monuments. Four of the seven are now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, one at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, one at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, and one at the State Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich. Auguste Mariette first linked the statues to Hyksos rulers, while Vladimir Golenishchev later identified them as Amenemhat III’s.
- notable_features
- High cheekbones, distinctive mane-like feature with nemes headcloth
Lore & Background
The Tanite sphinxes were discovered at Tanis in the Nile Delta. Early scholars, including Auguste Mariette, first attributed them to Hyksos rulers, foreign kings who governed parts of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. Later, Vladimir Golenishchev attributed them to the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III, a view now accepted. The sphinxes bear unique features such as high cheekbones and a distinctive mane-like feature that complements the traditional nemes headcloth, which early scholars tried to link to Hyksos facial characteristics.
Reader's Guide
The Tanite sphinxes are significant for their complex history of attribution and reuse. Originally thought to depict Hyksos rulers, they are now recognized as works of the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III. The statues were reinscribed by multiple rulers across different periods, including the Hyksos king Apepi and later pharaohs such as Ramesses II, reflecting a common practice of usurping earlier royal monuments. This practice complicates the study of ancient Egyptian art and politics, as later rulers often claimed earlier works for their own legitimacy. The sphinxes also highlight the challenges of archaeological attribution, where initial interpretations—such as Mariette's Hyksos theory—can be overturned by later scholarship. Their unique iconography, including lion's mane and ears, distinguishes them from typical Egyptian sphinxes and has fueled scholarly debate. The distribution of the seven sphinxes across museums in Cairo, Giza, Kolkata, and Munich underscores their global dispersal and continued importance in museum collections. The similar style seen in the Sphinx of Taharqo and sphinxes of Hatshepsut further situates the Tanite sphinxes within a broader tradition of royal sphinx imagery in ancient Egypt.
Did You Know?
- The Tanite sphinxes were first attributed to Hyksos rulers by Auguste Mariette.
- Vladimir Golenishchev was the first to attribute them to Amenemhat III.
- Four of the seven sphinxes are housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
- The sphinxes were reinscribed by the Hyksos king Apepi and later by Ramesses II.
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