Ancients: The Great Sphinx

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by AncientJoe, Aug 23, 2014.

  1. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    Thanks :) As ostentatious as the pyramids are, the pharaohs would surely be quite pleased that they're still thought of so frequently!

    Great addition, TIF! The broad flan is incredible.
     
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  3. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Hooray, now that TIF has hers, I can finally put this on my list :D.
     
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  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    :D

    I wish I did! I'm not optimistic about finding a better example any time soon. Besides, Zumbly is going to nab the next one :D

    I unashamedly aspire to be MiniJoe :D
     
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  5. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Great Sphinx miniJoe TIF !
    I wouldn't be ashamed to get such a coin for my collection either !

    Q
     
    TIF likes this.
  6. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Phenomenal posts !!

    I love that fantastic depiction of a Sphinx
     
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  7. Johndakerftw

    Johndakerftw Mr. Rogers is My Hero

    Fantastic coins, everyone!

    I need to get myself a sphinx coin now. :) Thanks for the inspiration!

    Erin
     
    TIF likes this.
  8. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    Interesting to mention. Joe's coin struck in the time Domitian, the Sphinx has already lost its beard.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. brassnautilus

    brassnautilus Well-Known Member

    the sphinx probably never had a beard
    Theory is that the head was recarved from a feline or canine, in either case it wouldn't had the material for the beard.
    [​IMG]

    I'm sure most here are aware of john anthony west's identification of vertical water erosion on the sphinx (that dates it to more than 10 millenniums ago). The fact these vertical water lines weren't on the face is an indication that it was re-carved at some point.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2016
  10. serafino

    serafino Well-Known Member

    It's great that this thread has been revived. Enjoyed seeing the coins and the history around them.
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  11. Cyrrhus

    Cyrrhus Well-Known Member

    got this one from Alexandria...no Sphinx tho. IMG_0021.JPG IMG_0022.JPG
     
  12. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    Spanish Sphinx .... struttin'

    Spain Castulo Sphinx.jpg
     
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  13. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Please provide us with links to discussion of the recarved option. The article below mentions the rise in groundwater causing peeling on some surfaces and damage from that cause would affect lower parts more than higher. I assume you find the beard parts found to be fakes? Finally is there any basis for the size and shape of that black head shown above or is it an artist's rendition?
    http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-secrets-of-the-sphinx-5053442/?all
     
  14. Nvb

    Nvb Well-Known Member

    As a big fan of facing portraits AND mythical beasts, there's no way I was passing this up. I've had my eye out for a good (affordable) Griffin or Sphinx for some time now..

    Troas, Gergis, 4th century BC. Æ - RARE

    [​IMG]

    Troas, Gergis, 4th century BC. Æ
    19mm
    7.35g
    6h
    Laureate head of the sibyl Herophile facing slightly r., wearing necklace. R/ Sphinx seated r. on grain ear; monogram to l. SNG Ashmolean 1146 var. (no monogram); SNG Copenhagen 339 var. (same). Rare, green patina, metal flaws, otherwise near VF
     
  15. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Nice @Nvb. Excellent Sphinx. Here's my poor man's example of a Sphinx:
    T. CARISIUS ROMAN 2.jpg
    T. CARISIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Head of the Aphrodisian Sibyl right, back hair in sling
    REVERSE: T. CARISIVS above sphinx sitting right; III.VIR below
    Rome 46 BC
    19mm, 3.49 g
    Cr464/1; Syd 983a; Carisia 11
    ex. Doug Smith Collection
     
  16. Aidan_()

    Aidan_() Numismatic Contributor

    Hey @AncientJoe how 'bout you take a break from your conquest and post some of your new coins! :D
     
  17. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    SPHINX COIN

    Just a big nose, no beard.
    Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx.jpg
    Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx


    SPHINX SCARAB

    Shows a beard...
    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx.jpg
    Egyptian Steatite Scarab
    Period: Middle Kingdom, 2055 - 1650 BC
    Steatite scarab, with plain top. The underside depicts a recumbent sphinx with beard, a horizontal separator and a scarab. This scarab dates from the Middle Kingdom and is most likely a representation of a Scarabaeus. Scarabs were produced in vast numbers for many centuries and many thousands have survived. They were generally intended to be worn or carried by the living.
    This scarab is from the Gustave Mustaki collection. Mustaki amassed a collection of antiquities from Alexandria in Egypt. Mustaki was an avid collector in the early 20th century and his collection came to the UK under Egyptian license in 1947.
     
  18. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    I hope to some day!! Alas, there are an insufficient number of hours in the day at the moment. In the meantime, resurrections of threads from almost five years ago keeps content coming.
     
  19. Nvb

    Nvb Well-Known Member

    Thank you @Bing. Fwiw this was a 2 digit purchase so not unaffordable in the realm of ancients. This larger denomination is scarce but its 4g little brother is relatively common. I never knew either one existed until yesterday =)

    Hopefully thats not a bad thing @AncientJoe. I know reviving old threads is frowned upon in some forums. I have always reasoned that if a well developed "post your ______ here" topic already exists, might as well add to it.
     
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  20. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Alas, I am sphinxless, but this is all the more reason to pay attention to the Castulo issues like @dougsmit posted.

    This one was in my numisbids watchlist, but I let it pass me by. I would not have been in a position to win it anyway. But now the type is on my radar.

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    WB2, I'm surprised you didn't post the "magic token". You know the one. ;) Not ancient, but very sphinx-topical, and fun nonetheless. I don't think people would mind seeing it here.
     
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