The sphinx, a hybrid creature with the body of a large, often winged feline (usually a lion) and a human head (usually female) was originally an Egyptian motif that gained popularity in Greek art of the Archaic period. The Etruscans likely became familiar with the image through contact with the Greeks and incorporated it into their own art. In all three cultures, representations of the sphinx were common in funerary contexts, where the ferocious appearance of the creature served to ward off evil. This sculpted fragment of a sphinx, consisting of the head, upper torso, and partial wings, almost certainly functioned as a grave marker. The almond-shaped eyes, prominent smile, and long corkscrew curls all indicate an Archaic date, ca. 530 B.C.