The mystery of the Sphinx
Since 1978, in the northeast corner of the Botanical Gardens stands a remnant of the university building’s original ornamentation.
In 1882, Helgo Zettervall had decorated his university creation with cement sculptures. At the main entrance stood four huge female figures intended to symbolise the different faculties of the university. These so-called faculty ladies were deemed “good taste” but removed in 1902. In 1952, it was the turn of the winged griffins and firepans on the outer edges of the roof. Finally in 1959, the four sphinxes were also removed, which by this time had become severely affected by the ravages of time. Newly cast firepans and griffins soon returned, but the Sphinxes had to wait until 1993.
The sphinxes on the university building are creatures in Hellenistic style, quite different from the Egyptian originals. In Zettervall’s interpretation, unlike the Greek, the female creations are almost androgynous.
The sphinx in the Botanical Garden was saved from being mechanically crushed by the National Board of Building and Planning and erected in the Botanical Gardens on the initiative of the Uarda Academy. It was also used as a model for the mould for the newly cast sphinxes.
Text and photo: Claes Wahöö