sphinxes
Egypt's stone guardians
Sphinxes is the plural of sphinx, a mythological creature typically depicted with a lion's body and human head.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is the most famous example.
In Greek myth, the sphinx posed riddles and killed those who answered wrong.
Figuratively, a sphinx is an inscrutable person: She sat like a sphinx, revealing nothing.
The plural sphinges also exists but is rare.
Tragic Greek king
- ThebesAncient city, two locations
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- GreekOf Athenian origin
chimera · hybrid · winged · prophecy · traveler · creature · monster · Hera
Apex-topped geometric solids
- GizaEgyptian necropolis plateau
- pharaohAncient Egyptian ruler
- NileAfrica's longest river
- hieroglyphicsSymbolic picture-based writing
necropolis · Luxor · Karnak · Thebes · Anubis · Ra · Osiris · Horus
Beyond easy comprehension
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- crypticObscure in meaning
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
secret · arcane · obscure · esoteric · veiled · ambiguous · unfathomable · perplexing
Three-dimensional sculpted likeness
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- colossalExtremely large in scale
- carvedCut to create form
monolithic · monument · stone · ancient · weathered · eroded · restoration · archaeological
Oedipus
Tragic Greek king
Greek · chimera · hybrid · winged · prophecy · traveler · creature · monster · Hera · destruction
pyramids
Apex-topped geometric solids
hieroglyphics · necropolis · Luxor · Karnak · Thebes · Anubis · Ra · Osiris · Horus · Tutankhamun
mysterious
Beyond easy comprehension
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- crypticObscure in meaning
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
riddle · secret · arcane · obscure · esoteric · veiled · ambiguous · unfathomable · perplexing · unknowable
statue
Three-dimensional sculpted likeness
carved · monolithic · monument · stone · ancient · weathered · eroded · restoration · archaeological · reclining
sentinel
Guard who monitors
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- gatekeeperOne controlling entry
- watcherOne who observes
flanking · temple · tomb · entrance · avenue · paired · watchful · imposing · sacred · threshold
- beingsbeings, being, entities, entity, creatures
- Ancient Egyptpharaoh, pharaohs, pyramids, hieroglyphics, pyramid
- Egyptian Antiquitiesmummies, sarcophagi, sarcophagus, canopic jars, scarabs
- Egyptian monumentspyramids, obelisks, temples, tombs, Giza pyramids
- monumentsWashington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Arc de Triomphe
- ancient ornamentacanthus, meanders, rosettes, scrollwork, friezes
sphinxesopen books
People easily understood
oracles · truth-tellers · blabbermouths · informants · prophets
sphinxessupplicants
Those humbly requesting aid
travelers · petitioners · pilgrims · prey · victims
- Great SphinxColossal human-lion statue, Egypt
- The SphinxHuman-headed lion statue