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Hieracosphinx

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Wall relief of Horus at the temple of Edfu, Egypt

The hieracosphinx (Ancient Greek: ἱερακόσφιγξ) is a mythical beast found in Egyptian sculpture and European heraldry.[1] The god Haroeris ("Horus the Elder") was usually depicted as one.[2] The name Hieracosphinx comes from the Greek Ιερακόσφιγξ, itself from ἱέραξ (hierax "hawk") + σφίγξ ("sphinx").[3]

Description

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The Hieracosphinx has the head of a hawk and the body of a lion. The name was coined by Herodotus for the hawk-headed sphinxes that he saw in Egypt; the other being the ram-headed sphinx which Herodotus called Criosphinx (Ancient Greek: Κριόσφιγξ).

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The Hieracosphinx is the name of a monster card in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game.[4]

In the Real-time strategy game Age of Mythology, worshipping Bast allows players to upgrade their Sphinxes to Hieracosphinxes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gwynn-Jones, P. Ll. (1998) The Art of Heraldry : origins, symbols, designs, London : Parkgate, ISBN 1-85585-560-7
  2. ^ http://tarot.vn/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CCI18122015_0105.png [bare URL image file]
  3. ^ "Definition of 'hieracosphinx'". www.collinsdictionary.com.
  4. ^ "Hieracosphinx | Card Details | Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME - CARD DATABASE".
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