The earliest sphinx amulet known is a First Intermediate Period recumbent gold one1, see below. During the Middle Kingdom appeared sphinxes in semi-precious stones (amethyst, feldspar, etc.). They linked the wearer with the protection of the pharaoh and of the lion1. A curator of the British Museum indicated they may rather represent crouching women giving birth
Gold L 1.3 First Intermediate Period
© The Trustees of the
British Museum
#EA62494
Amethyst female sphinx with remnant of traversing gold chain
H 1.7 Middle Kingdom
MET #2012.237.3
Green feldspar
H 1.6, W 1.2, T 0.5
Middle Kingdom
© The Trustees of the
British Museum
#EA14754
References
1Andrews C. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, 1994, pp. 78-79, and Fig. 64j