Sculptuur van een sfinx te Split before 1878

Captured by Franz Thiard de Laforest, this photograph presents a sculpture of a sphinx in Split. This mythical creature, with the body of a lion and the head of a human, carries a potent symbolism rooted in ancient Egypt. It embodies guardianship, wisdom, and the enigmatic unknown. The sphinx motif appears across millennia and cultures. From the monumental guardians of pharaohs' tombs to the riddle-bearing creature of Greek myth, its essence persists. Think of Oedipus confronting the Sphinx: a powerful metaphor for humanity's struggle with fate and self-knowledge. The enduring appeal of the sphinx may lie in its embodiment of the 'unconscious' itself: a repository of primal fears, hidden wisdom, and unresolved conflicts. Like the dreams that well up from the depths of our minds, the Sphinx challenges us to confront the mysteries that lie within and without, compelling us to delve deeper into the wellspring of human experience. This image is a testament to the enduring power of symbols, constantly reinvented yet forever echoing our deepest hopes and anxieties.