The Sphinx is a mythological creature, depicted as a lion with a human head, with origins in the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. It is associated with the Egyptian solar deity Sekhmet, who was also a deity of war and protector of pharaohs. It remained a strong figure throughout Egyptian history. It has been imported into many other cultures, often interpreted quite differently due to translations and the evolution of cultures and traditions through time.
The sphinx's role was a temple guardian, often placed with architectural structures such as temples or sacred tombs. One of the first sphinxes depicted Hetepheres II, whose dynasty lasted from 2723 to 2563 BC. The largest, most famous sphinx is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which sits at the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile River. Built during the same dynasty, its exact construction date is uncertain- but it is believed to depict the pharaoh Khafra. Other famous sphinxes depict the pharaoh Hatshepsut, carved in granite, and the alabaster sphinx of Memphis.
Cold Cast is a modern method of casting sculptures using a mixture of resin and powdered polymer materials. The finished sculpture has a surface which looks very similar to traditionally cast material, but tends to be much lighter.
