THE SPHINX IN THAILAND
In contrast to the sitting-crouching manuthiha of Myanmar,
the sphinxes of Thailand are fully upright standing and walking beings,
half human, half lion. With beautifully curled tails and ornamental plumes.
Both male and female sphinxes are depicted, often as pairs.
In the Siamese legends and traditions these are called
thep-norasri, norasi, upsorn-srihas, apsonsi, and nora-nair. They are counted among the inhabitants
of the legendary Himapan forest. According to some this is situated in the Himalaya,
others say it exists invisible between the earth and the Buddhist heavens.
They belong stylistically to East Asian art, as they wear the Asian style crown and jewellery,
ear-flaps, and are dressed according to the traditions of ancient Thailand. But they have
retained the arched and up-turned eye-brows, and what may be interpreted as feathers are
growing from their lower legs. Similar to the feathers growing from the limbs
of the wing-less manuthiha in Myanmar.
One peculiarity connects them to some of the sphinxes I have found in temples
in South India. Sometimes they have the hooves of deer instead of lion's claws for feet.
In which case they are called upsorn-srihas. A few of the sphinxes I have found depicted
in south Indian temples have hooves, as of a deer or a horse, with a tail that
reminds much more of a horse's tail than of a lion's tail.
Another connection with sphinxes elsewhere is that sometimes they are placed close to
Mythologyical beings called kimnaras in Sanskrit; beings with the lower part of a bird
and the upper body of a human being. In ancient Greek Mythology these were called sirens.
In many temples I have found this combination of kimnaras and purushamrigas sculpted close
together.
Their function is again very similar to that of sphinxes from other parts of the world;
they protect and guard temples and palaces.
