The hieracosphinx ( Ancient Greek: ἱερακόσφιγξ) is a mythical beast found in Egyptian sculpture and European heraldry. [1] The god Haroeris ("Horus the Elder") was usually depicted as one. [2] The name Hieracosphinx comes from the Greek Ιερακόσφιγξ, itself from ἱέραξ (hierax "hawk") + σφίγξ ("sphinx"). [3]
The Hieracosphinx has the head of a hawk and the body of a lion. The name was coined by Herodotus to the hawk-headed sphinxes that he saw in Egypt; the other being the ram-headed sphinx which Herodotus called Criosphinx ( Ancient Greek: Κριόσφιγξ).
The Hieracosphinx is the name of a monster card in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. [4]
In the Real-time strategy game Age of Mythology, worshipping Bast allows players to upgrade their Sphinxes to Hieracosphinxes.