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Sphinx
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Amber, a form of fossilized tree resin, was much prized in the ancient Mediterranean world, perhaps due to its mysterious luminosity, fragrance, and magnetism. It was often carved into figures or heads of humans, animals, or mythical creatures. Small perforations on this sphinx suggest that it may once have been mounted, perhaps for use as a pendant. Although now opaque and crackled due to age, in antiquity the surface probably exhibited some degree of translucence, a valued attribute for amulets and ornaments.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineSphinx, c. 500 BCE. Greek/South Italian, Taranto. Amber; overall: 5.8 x 2.3 cm (2 5/16 x 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1985.49
