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Sphinxes of El Salobral

The Sphinxes of El Salobral are a pair of identical Iberian sculptures discovered by chance in 1901 in El Salobral, a district of Albacete. They are often mistakenly treated as a single work, but they were carved as mirrored companions to be placed opposite each other, likely flanking the entrance or corners of a funerary mound. After their discovery, and amid the archaeological looting suffered by Iberian sculpture at the beginning of the 20th century, they were sold by archaeologist Pierre Paris to the Louvre. Today, one sphinx, the better known of the two, is in the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, while the other is in the holdings of the Municipal Museum of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Weathered stone relief of the El Salobral Sphinxes shown in profile, with a large textured wing curving upward across the figure.
Weathered stone relief of one of the El Salobral Sphinxes, shown in profile with its wing prominently visible.
September 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Salobral sphinx sculpture displayed on a white pedestal with a museum information plaque below it.
El Salobral Sphinx on display in a museum, with a plaque showing the paired statues as they would flank an entrance.
August 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The El Salobral Sphinxes shown as two weathered stone carvings on white pedestals.
Two weathered stone sphinx reliefs from El Salobral displayed side by side on separate pedestals.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered stone sphinx sculpture from El Salobral on a rectangular base, shown in black and white.
A grainy black-and-white view of one of the El Salobral sphinxes, carved in stone and mounted on a base.
© Ángel Plaza Simón · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered stone fragment of the El Salobral Sphinxes showing the hindquarters and curved body of an animal with a textured tail arched over its back.
Weathered stone fragment from the El Salobral Sphinxes, showing the animal’s hindquarters and sweeping tail.
0475 © Relanzón, Santiago (photo) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleSphinxes of El Salobral
TypePair of Iberian sphinx sculptures
Number of sculpturesTwo
Alternative nameTwin sphinxes of El Salobral

Discovery and provenance

Discovery date1901
Discovery methodAccidental discovery
Discovery locationEl Salobral, Albacete, Spain
Discovery contextFound after archaeological looting of Iberian sculpture in the early 20th century
Subsequent ownershipSold by archaeologist Pierre Paris to the Louvre Museum

Historical context

Possible contextBelieved to have formed part of a funerary tower-shaped complex similar to the Mausoleum of Pozo Moro
DatingEnd of the 6th century BC, based on stylistic characteristics

Physical characteristics

FormTwo identical sculptures carved as mirror images
Intended placementDesigned to face each other and flank the entrance or corners of a funerary tumulus

Iconography and meaning

FunctionApotropaic and psychopompic, with magical significance; intended to protect the funerary monument and guide the deceased's soul to the underworld

Materials

PolychromyThe preserved sphinx retains traces of polychromy

Appearance

Visible colorIntense red
Interpretation of red colorConsidered the color of life because of its resemblance to human blood

Location and ownership

Current locationSplit between the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid and the collections of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Municipal Museum, France

History and restoration

Return to SpainThe sphinx in Madrid was restituted in 1941 in the same operation that enabled Spain to recover the Lady of Elche, the Sphinx of Agost, and part of the Treasure of Guarrazar
Museum statusThe Saint-Germain-en-Laye Municipal Museum has been closed since 1979 due to serious security deficiencies