Search this site
Embedded Files
The Great Sphinx of Giza Resource Page
  • Home
  • About the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • FAQs about the Great Sphinx
    • Great Sphinx FAQ Images
      • great-sphinx-name-in-hieroglyphs-horemakhet
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-napoleonic-expedition-illustration
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-location-giza-plateau
      • lower-egypt-location-north-africa-map
      • giza-plateau-location-nile-valley-map
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-human
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-double-decker-bus
      • sphinx-temple-limestone-blocks-giza
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-head-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-body-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-phases-restoration-1920s
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-date-timeline
      • Khufu-face-ivory-statuette
      • djedfre-face-statue
      • Khafre-face-statue
      • Aker-double-lion-sphinx-papyrus-of-Ani
      • aegyptus-hodierna-1720-homann-giza-sphinx
      • dream-stele-thutmose-iv-double-sphinx-detail-lepsius
      • great-sphinx-khafre-pyramid-alignment-beato-1860
      • great-sphinx-excavation-restoration-multiple-phases-1926
      • tutankhmun-sphinx-guardian-trampling
      • great-sphinx-summer-solstice-sunset
      • hieroglyph-akht-horizon
      • amenemhat-ii-sphinx-louvres
      • great-sphinx-dream-stele-junghaendel-1893
      • khufu-relief-lepsius-denkmaeler-smiting-scene
      • amenemhat-ii-face
      • amenemhat-iii-head-comparison-sphinx-borchardt
      • great-sphinx-female-depiction-boullaye-le-gouz-17th-century
      • hatshepsut-sphinx-statue-female-pharaoh-18th-dynasty
      • frederik-louis-norden-sphinx-without-nose-1737-38
      • great-sphinx-missing-nose-description-egypte-full-plate
      • dream-stele-sphinx-temple-structure-doorway-lepsius-detail
      • great-sphinx-holes-tunnels-inside-under
      • criosphinx-guardians-karnak
    • Great-Sphinx-of-Giza-Dimensions
  • Image Gallery 1 - Images of the Great Sphinx 16th -18th centuries CE
  • Image Gallery 2 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the Early 19th Century
  • Image Gallery 3 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the mid-19th century
  • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 1 - Origins
  • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 2 Death and Resurrection
  • The Sex of the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 1
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 2
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 3
  • Books and Articles about the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • Videos and Documentaries about the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • The Great Sphinx of Giza in the news
  • ARCE Sphinx Project
  • Archives Lacau
  • The Giza Archives
  • Digital Giza
  • A.E.R.A
  • The Hall of Maat
  • Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien
  • About this website
The Great Sphinx of Giza Resource Page
  • Home
  • About the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • FAQs about the Great Sphinx
    • Great Sphinx FAQ Images
      • great-sphinx-name-in-hieroglyphs-horemakhet
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-napoleonic-expedition-illustration
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-location-giza-plateau
      • lower-egypt-location-north-africa-map
      • giza-plateau-location-nile-valley-map
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-human
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-double-decker-bus
      • sphinx-temple-limestone-blocks-giza
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-head-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-body-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-phases-restoration-1920s
      • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-date-timeline
      • Khufu-face-ivory-statuette
      • djedfre-face-statue
      • Khafre-face-statue
      • Aker-double-lion-sphinx-papyrus-of-Ani
      • aegyptus-hodierna-1720-homann-giza-sphinx
      • dream-stele-thutmose-iv-double-sphinx-detail-lepsius
      • great-sphinx-khafre-pyramid-alignment-beato-1860
      • great-sphinx-excavation-restoration-multiple-phases-1926
      • tutankhmun-sphinx-guardian-trampling
      • great-sphinx-summer-solstice-sunset
      • hieroglyph-akht-horizon
      • amenemhat-ii-sphinx-louvres
      • great-sphinx-dream-stele-junghaendel-1893
      • khufu-relief-lepsius-denkmaeler-smiting-scene
      • amenemhat-ii-face
      • amenemhat-iii-head-comparison-sphinx-borchardt
      • great-sphinx-female-depiction-boullaye-le-gouz-17th-century
      • hatshepsut-sphinx-statue-female-pharaoh-18th-dynasty
      • frederik-louis-norden-sphinx-without-nose-1737-38
      • great-sphinx-missing-nose-description-egypte-full-plate
      • dream-stele-sphinx-temple-structure-doorway-lepsius-detail
      • great-sphinx-holes-tunnels-inside-under
      • criosphinx-guardians-karnak
    • Great-Sphinx-of-Giza-Dimensions
  • Image Gallery 1 - Images of the Great Sphinx 16th -18th centuries CE
  • Image Gallery 2 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the Early 19th Century
  • Image Gallery 3 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the mid-19th century
  • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 1 - Origins
  • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 2 Death and Resurrection
  • The Sex of the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 1
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 2
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 3
  • Books and Articles about the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • Videos and Documentaries about the Great Sphinx of Giza
  • The Great Sphinx of Giza in the news
  • ARCE Sphinx Project
  • Archives Lacau
  • The Giza Archives
  • Digital Giza
  • A.E.R.A
  • The Hall of Maat
  • Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien
  • About this website
  • More
    • Home
    • About the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • FAQs about the Great Sphinx
      • Great Sphinx FAQ Images
        • great-sphinx-name-in-hieroglyphs-horemakhet
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-napoleonic-expedition-illustration
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-location-giza-plateau
        • lower-egypt-location-north-africa-map
        • giza-plateau-location-nile-valley-map
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-human
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-size-comparison-double-decker-bus
        • sphinx-temple-limestone-blocks-giza
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-head-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-body-limestone-layers-francis-firth-1858
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-phases-restoration-1920s
        • great-sphinx-of-giza-construction-date-timeline
        • Khufu-face-ivory-statuette
        • djedfre-face-statue
        • Khafre-face-statue
        • Aker-double-lion-sphinx-papyrus-of-Ani
        • aegyptus-hodierna-1720-homann-giza-sphinx
        • dream-stele-thutmose-iv-double-sphinx-detail-lepsius
        • great-sphinx-khafre-pyramid-alignment-beato-1860
        • great-sphinx-excavation-restoration-multiple-phases-1926
        • tutankhmun-sphinx-guardian-trampling
        • great-sphinx-summer-solstice-sunset
        • hieroglyph-akht-horizon
        • amenemhat-ii-sphinx-louvres
        • great-sphinx-dream-stele-junghaendel-1893
        • khufu-relief-lepsius-denkmaeler-smiting-scene
        • amenemhat-ii-face
        • amenemhat-iii-head-comparison-sphinx-borchardt
        • great-sphinx-female-depiction-boullaye-le-gouz-17th-century
        • hatshepsut-sphinx-statue-female-pharaoh-18th-dynasty
        • frederik-louis-norden-sphinx-without-nose-1737-38
        • great-sphinx-missing-nose-description-egypte-full-plate
        • dream-stele-sphinx-temple-structure-doorway-lepsius-detail
        • great-sphinx-holes-tunnels-inside-under
        • criosphinx-guardians-karnak
      • Great-Sphinx-of-Giza-Dimensions
    • Image Gallery 1 - Images of the Great Sphinx 16th -18th centuries CE
    • Image Gallery 2 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the Early 19th Century
    • Image Gallery 3 - Images of the Great Sphinx from the mid-19th century
    • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 1 - Origins
    • The Tunnels and Chambers of the Great Sphinx Part 2 Death and Resurrection
    • The Sex of the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza
      • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 1
      • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 2
      • The Roman Remains at the Great Sphinx of Giza - Appendix 3
    • Books and Articles about the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • Videos and Documentaries about the Great Sphinx of Giza
    • The Great Sphinx of Giza in the news
    • ARCE Sphinx Project
    • Archives Lacau
    • The Giza Archives
    • Digital Giza
    • A.E.R.A
    • The Hall of Maat
    • Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien
    • About this website

← Return to the FAQ | Image Index

Two seated lions back-to-back from the New Kingdom Papyrus of Ani.

Aker depicted as twin lions from the Papyrus of Ani.

The Egyptian God Aker was represented as two lions or sphinxes facing opposite directions.  Sometimes they would be shown conjoined at the waist.

In this specific scene from the Papyrus of Ani, Aker is depicted as two lions supporting the Egyptian hieroglyph for Akht (horizon), with the hieroglyph for sky, Pt, above.

This common representation of lions and Sphinxes as pairs in Ancient Egyptian iconography, including on the Dream Stele of Thutmose IV (discovered between the front legs of the Sphinx), has fueled speculation that another Sphinx at Giza may yet be discovered.

Source: Wikimedia, Papyrus of Ani

©thegreatsphinxofgiza.com 2020-2026 Research, analysis, and editorial content by thegreatsphinxofgiza.com.  Historical images are reproduced from public-domain sources unless otherwise credited.
Google Sites
Report abuse
Page details
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse