Sphinx statue of Amenemhat II (Middle Kingdom), illustrating the combination of a lion’s body with a royal human head as a symbol of kingship. 

This sculpture of the 12th Dynasty ruler Amenemhat II, now housed in the Louvre Museum, exemplifies the canonical form of the Egyptian sphinx: the body of a lion joined with the head of a king wearing the nemes headdress. In Egyptian iconography, this composite figure conveyed power, protection, and royal intelligence.

The statue remains largely well-preserved, showing only minor damage. Notably, both the nose and the Royal Uraeus (the cobra emblem on the forehead) have been broken, echoing similar damage seen on the head of the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Source: Wikimedia Photograph by Ning J. (2009) Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0