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The Seven Wonders
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were seven impressive structures famously listed by ancient writers including Philo of Byzantium, Antipater of Sidon, Diodorus Siculus, Herodotus, Strabo, and Callimachus of Cyrene, among others. The...
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The Sphinx Gate, Alacahöyük (Hittite settlement)
The Sphinx Gate at Alacahöyük (the site of a Neolithic and Hittite settlement in central Turkey) was built in the 14th century BCE. It was the south entrance of the city and was fortified with towers. It was flanked by sphinx protomes sculpted...
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Sphinx of Hatshepsut
Sphinx of Hatshepsut (ca. 1479–1458 BCE). This colossal sphinx portrays the female pharaoh Hatshepsut with the body of a lion and a human head wearing a nemes–headcloth and false beard. The sculptor has carefully observed the powerful muscles...
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Taharqa Sphinx
Granite sphinx of Taharqa, 25th Dynasty, c. 690-664 BCE. This statue from Kawa (Temple T) in Sudan shows the Pharaoh's face on a Lion figured sphinx, a form of royal representation borrowed from Middle and New Kingdom art. Taharqa was...
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Greek Sphinx, British Museum
Greek sphinx that may once have guarded the tomb of a Greek inhabitant in Egypt. Roman Egypt, 2nd century CE. In Greek mythology, the sphinx was a monster with the head of a woman, a bird's wings, the body of a lion, and often a serpent's...
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Sphinx Gate at Alacahöyük
The Sphinx Gate at Alacahöyük (the site of a Neolithic and Hittite settlement in central Turkey) was built in the 14th century BCE. It was the south entrance of the city and was fortified with towers. It was flanked by sphinx protomes sculpted...
Definition
Khaemweset
Khaemweset (also given as Khaemwaset, Khaemwise, Khaemuas, Setem Khaemwaset, c. 1281-c.1225 BCE) was the fourth son of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BCE) and his queen Isetnefret. He is the best known of Ramesses II's many children after the pharaoh...
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Ancient Egyptian Taxes & the Cattle Count
The gods of ancient Egypt freely gave their bounty to the people who worked the land, but this did not exempt those farmers from paying taxes on that bounty to the government. Egypt was a cashless society until the Persian Period (c. 525...
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Winged Sphinx of Susa
Winged Sphinx from the palace of Darius the Great (549-486 BCE) at Susa.
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Phoenician Ivory Sphinx Plaque
This ivory plaque is part of the so-called "Nimrud Ivories." The sphinx wears the typical Egyptian Pharaohs' double crown and an apron with cobra. This indicates that the plaque was made by a Phoenician craftsman. From Nimrud (ancient Kalhu...