Naxian Sphinx on display at the Delphi Archaeological Museum
Naxian Sphinx
Known as the Naxian Sphinx, the statue shown in the image once stood on a tall freestanding Ionic column located below the Polygonal Wall on the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. It was made from Naxian marble in 560 BCE. The column on which this statue stood was 12 m high and was an imposing sight at that time.
The Naxian Sphinx was a votive offering at the Temple of Apollo by the people of Naxos (hence the name Naxian), an island belonging to the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea.
The Naxian Sphinx represents a mythical creature that has the head of a woman, body of a lion and wings of an eagle. In ancient times, sphinxes were considered guardians of tombs and sanctuaries.
Check the front view of the statue.
Related Pages
– Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Greece
– Greek Islands, Crete
– Minoan Civilization, Mycenaean Civilization
– Ephesus
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