Antique Lidded Urn with Hybrid Male Sphinxes and a Female Mask on the Body, from Vases after the Antique 1543

This engraving by Enea Vico depicts an antique lidded urn adorned with hybrid male sphinxes and a female mask. The sphinxes, with their human torsos and leonine bodies, flank a serene female mask, all encircled by a garland of leaves and fruits—symbols of prosperity and harmony. The sphinx, a guardian figure, has its roots in ancient Egypt, later adopted and adapted by the Greeks. Consider the Sphinx of Giza, a silent sentinel guarding ancient wisdom. Here, the sphinxes are male, an androgynous twist on the traditional image, reflecting a Renaissance fascination with classical forms and mythology. The female mask, framed by the garland, evokes the Roman tradition of honoring female deities and the importance of family lineage. Such symbolism is not static; it evolves. The garland, once a symbol of triumph, now softens the urn’s design, hinting at themes of remembrance and the cyclical nature of life. These motifs, passed down through generations, reveal the enduring power of images to connect us to the past, engaging our collective memory on a subconscious level.