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Sphinx of Naxos

The Sphinx of Naxos is an ancient statue of a sphinx from Greek mythology, carved from Naxian marble and dedicated around 570/560 BC by the people of Naxos to the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. It shows a creature with a woman’s head, a lion’s body, and the wings of a bird of prey. The body was discovered broken into several large pieces in 1861 and later restored; the head was found in 1893. The statue originally sat on an Ionic column and the full structure once reached more than 13 meters in height. Today, the body and head are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

The Sphinx of Naxos stone sculpture with a woman\'s head, feathered wings, and a lion-like body on a decorative base.
The Sphinx of Naxos, an ancient stone sculpture with a woman\'s head and outstretched wings, shown on its ornate base.
November 2007 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sphinx of Naxos stone sculpture with a woman\'s head, lion\'s body, and carved wings on an ornate volute base.
The Sphinx of Naxos displayed in a museum setting, showing its carved wings and ornate base.
· CC BY-SA 3.0
The Sphinx of Naxos statue displayed on a tall column base in a museum hall.
The Sphinx of Naxos on display in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
2005 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Sphinx of Naxos shown in left profile on a fluted column inside a museum hall.
The Sphinx of Naxos displayed on a fluted column in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
March 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered stone Sphinx of Naxos sculpture in profile with a large wing, shown on a pedestal.
The Sphinx of Naxos shown in profile, with its wing and weathered stone surface visible.
© Rijksmuseum · CC0

Identification

TitleSphinx of Naxos
TypeAncient Archaic Greek marble statue of a sphinx, monumental and colossal
Alternative nameNaxian Sphinx; Sphinx of the Naxians

Historical context

DateAround 570–560 BC
Period6th century BC
Historical contextNaxos was one of the richest Cycladic islands of the time
Cultural styleNesiotic; Ionian

Creator

Dedicated byThe people of Naxos
Dedicated toApollo, at the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi

Discovery and provenance

Original locationDelphi, beside the Temple of Apollo, near the Halos
DiscoveryThe main fragments were discovered in 1860–1861 in the sanctuary of Apollo; the remaining fragments, including the head, were found in 1893
DamageThe lower part was damaged between the discoveries, reportedly by villagers and an earthquake
RestorationRestored after discovery and completion of the missing parts
Inventory numbersBody 1050; head 380

Physical characteristics

Original total heightMore than 13 m including the column and base
SupportOriginally stood on a 10 m Ionic column with one of the earliest Ionic capitals; only parts of the capital and shaft survive, and the shaft had 44 flutes
Total heightAbout 12.45–12.5 m including the statue, column, and base
Head height0.67 m including the preserved neck base; 0.50 m from chin to crown
Length1.35 m
Height including wings2.32 m
Height2.22 m

Materials

MaterialNaxian marble

Technique

Carving techniqueCarved in the round, not in relief

Appearance

Depicted figureA sphinx with a woman's head, lioness body, and bird-of-prey wings
Appearance detailsThe figure has an enigmatic smile; the hair, breasts, and wings are emphasized and create a sense of movement and vitality

Iconography and meaning

InterpretationA guardian figure associated with temple entrances and with tombs or temples more generally; the inscription shows the Naxians' promanteia at Delphi was renewed
Symbolic meaningEarthly divinity and heavenly power
Mythological contextA Greek interpretation of the sphinx, a creature also linked in myth to the riddle of Oedipus and to traditions involving Thebes and Ethiopia

Location and ownership

Current locationArchaeological Museum of Delphi
Replica locationEntrance of the Archéopôle d'Aquitaine, campus of Bordeaux-Montaigne University

History and restoration

Inscription date328–327 BC
Inscription textThe Delphians grant the Naxians promantia as in former times. During the archonship of Theolytos, under the bouleutes Epigenes.
Inscription significanceThe base inscription records the renewal of promanteia, the Naxians' right of priority consultation of the oracle
Archon mentioned in inscriptionTheolytos
Bouleutes mentioned in inscriptionEpigenes

Significance

Art-historical significanceA typical example of Naxian sculpture at its peak and an early example of fully round monumental sculpture
Historical significanceThe column may have been the oldest Ionic construction project at Delphi; the monument impressed visitors
Possible influenceIt has been suggested that the Sphinx of Naxos and similar Greek sphinx-crowned columns may have inspired the Pillars of Ashoka in India, via contacts beginning with Alexander the Great in 320 BC and continuing under the Greco-Bactrians and Indo-Greeks
Related examplesSimilar sphinx-crowned columns are known from Sparta, Athens, and Spata; a funerary stele topped with a sphinx dated 530 BC is a comparable example