The sphinx is a mythological creature portrayed as a feline with the head of a human. Its figure can vary. Some depict the beast with eagle’s wings and sometimes a serpent headed tail. Its image was adapted in both ancient Egypt and Greece. In Europe it was enjoyed as a major revival during the renaissance, a decorative piece of art. Its image, very similar to the original was later exported to many other cultures.
The largest and most famous is the Great Sphinx of Giza sited on the bank of the Nile River in Egypt. Its figure head quickly became traditional and many pharaohs had their heads carved atop guardian statures for their tombs; showing their closeness with the powerful soar deity whose name is in scripted on the stele