The Sphinx War memorial

Have you ever seen a Sphinx wearing an American military medallion, crowned with a bald eagle’s head? Here at Mount Auburn Cemetery, The Sphinx War Memorial is just that. This isn’t your typical ancient Egyptian sphinx. It’s a unique blend of cultures, a powerful symbol of a nation reborn after the Civil War. The Sphinx, a colossal 40-ton granite figure, was the vision of Dr. Jacob Bigelow, a Harvard botanist, physician, and one of Mount Auburn’s founders. After the Civil War’s devastation, Bigelow envisioned a monument honoring the Union army’s sacrifices and symbolizing a more unified America. He chose the Sphinx, a creature representing “repose, strength, beauty, and duration,” to embody this ideal. The Sphinx, designed by Bigelow himself and sculpted by Martin Milmore, blends American and African motifs. It bears an American military medallion and eagle headdress, alongside an Egyptian lotus and an American water lily. The inscription, in both Latin and English, proclaims: “AMERICAN UNION PRESERVED, AFRICAN SLAVERY DESTROYED, BY THE UPRISING OF A GREAT PEOPLE, BY THE BLOOD OF FALLEN HEROES.” Bigelow, whose vision was failing due to cataracts, would run his hands over the Sphinx’s massive form, a testament to his dedication to this unique symbol of peace and unity. The Sphinx at Mount Auburn isn’t just a war memorial; it’s a powerful statement about the nation’s resilience and its hope for a brighter future.