The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Sphinx Chalcedony [ARK00159]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Chalcedony with incised image of recumbent sphinx (CANCA-B/97a) and also an impression cast of the gem (CANCA-B/97b), circular flat, recumbent sphinx design. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, a sphinx is usually depicted as a recumbent lioness or lion with a human head, but occasionally as a lion with the head of a falcon, hawk, or ram. Later, the sphinx image, something very similar to the original Egyptian concept, was by other cultures; albeit interpreted differently and adapted to other cultural traditions.] (approx 1st cent AD)