Why Did the Sphinx Have a Human Head? - The Real Story Behind the Mysterious Sphinx

One of the most enduring symbols of ancient Egypt and Greece, the sphinx is a mythical creature that has intrigued and inspired human imagination for thousands of years. The very symbol of mystery, the sphinx’s original purpose remains unclear.

Depending on the cultural perspective you view it from, it’s either a benevolent protector or a malevolent riddle-asker.

The sphinx goes as far back as the oldest Egyptian myths. As these creatures were worshipped as benevolent guardians, statues of them were often placed at the entrances of tombs, temples, and royal palaces.

It was also common for pharaohs to have their own faces depicted as the heads of sphinx guardian statues for their tombs. The rulers’ ego may have played a part here but it’s also an Egyptian tradition to link the rulers with the gods, as they themselves are supposed to be viewed as demigods of sorts.

In this case, portraying the pharaohs as sphinx guardians was linking them to the solar deity Sekhmet who herself had the body of a lioness.

The sphinx remains a mysterious figure and one that has captured human imagination for millennia. It’s often depicted in movies, books, and artwork, and is as alive today as it’s ever been.

Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - The Origin of the Sphinx
00:53 - The Worship of Sphinxes
01:04 - The Great Sphinx of Giza
01:29 - The Greek Version of the Sphinx
02:13 - The Sphinxes Riddle
02:30 - Oedipus and the Sphinx
02:51 - Egyptian vs. Greek Sphinxes
03:08 - The Symbolism of the Sphinx

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