Who has riddles for me? I am the Sphinx of Hamburg, and I have been watching the city for quite some time. My full name, if you please, is Sphinx Sculpture. You’ll find me here, a bronze sentinel, crafted by the skilled hands of Karl August Ohrt. But I have a secret, a hidden past. I was not born of bronze, but of tuff stone, Nenfro-tuff to be precise. My origins lie in Italy, guarding Etruscan tombs in the 6th century BC. Lions, hippokamps, and other creatures stood alongside me, protecting the sacred resting places. But I am no fearsome beast. I am a benevolent guardian, a protector of souls. I traveled far from my Italian home, across time and continents, to find myself here in Hamburg. My stone form remains in the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MKG), a testament to my ancient lineage. But my bronze spirit soars here, overlooking the vibrant life of this city. Look closely, and you’ll see the echoes of my Etruscan heritage. The serene expression, the regal posture – these whispers of the past linger in my bronze form. I’ve seen the city grow and change, watched history unfold beneath my watchful gaze. And as I stand here, a silent observer, I ponder the riddles of time, of art, and of the enduring spirit of the Sphinx.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to