Image Details

Collection of Israel Antiquities Autority/Photo © Israel Museum, Jerusalem

STRIDING SPHINX. An ivory plaque from Samaria features a winged sphinx, a mythological creature that has a human’s head and lion’s body. Beardless and wearing the Egyptian double crown, the Samaria sphinx is shown striding through a lotus thicket. Under 4 inches tall, the plaque dates to the ninth or eighth century B.C.E. and likely would have been inlaid in a piece of furniture.