Things You'll Need:
- Photos of the Sphinx
- White pottery clay
- Knife or clay modeling tools
- Paint (optional)
- Kiln
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Step 1
Roll out your clay and shape it into a long rectangle. This will be the body---including the legs---of your model Sphinx. Using the photos as a guide, shape the rectangle so that it resembles the Sphinx's body, with step-like layers on the body going from the bottom to the top if its back.
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Step 2
Cut away the clay between the Sphinx's front legs and shape the legs. They are very long in comparison to the rest of the body, so make sure they are accurate by referring to the photos.
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Step 3
Roll out a ball of clay for the Sphinx's head. Shape the face of the Sphinx first, making its forehead and jaw, and indicate where its nose used to be. Shape the triangular headdress behind the face, pulling the clay to stretch. Create a short neck.
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Step 4
Place the head on the body of the Sphinx and blend the neck in with the body. Use a small knife or modeling tools to create more detail on the model, including its eyes, lips and toes.
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Step 5
Paint your model Sphinx as you like. Hawass and other Egyptologists have found fragments of paint on the Great Sphinx, and believe that it was originally brightly painted. Colors commonly used in ancient Egypt included black, green, red, blue and yellow. Apply the paint, allow to air dry, and then fire your model in a kiln to preserve it.
