The Sphinx on the Peristal is an Egyptian sphinx located in front of the Cathedral of St. Duje. Diocletian was considered a divine ruler, similar to the pharaohs, and accordingly took over their custom of placing a sphinx in front of the entrance. It is assumed that there was not just one sphinx but that there were four. In Split and its surroundings at this time there were more than ten sphinxes that were deployed in different places but some were lost or severely damaged in the meantime. The black granite sphinx is almost two and a half meters long and about one meter high.
Sphinxes are mythical creatures with a lion's body, while the head can be either human or belong to another animal species. The peristyle sphinx has a human head, and it is interesting that its front limbs are human, not animal. Between his outstretched hands he holds a vessel for sacrificial offerings, which was a rarity on sphinxes and is another detail that makes this Split monument unusual and special.
Author of the article
Ana Lazarević - correspondent for Split
Contact: [email protected]
photo credit: Tom Bradley
