Final answer:
The medium of the Sphinx of Hatshepsut includes indurated limestone, and her sculptures often feature traditional royal iconography such as the nemes headdress and beard to symbolize her status as Pharaoh.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medium of the sphinx of Hatshepsut, which is referenced as figure 4.10.11 in some educational resources, is made from various materials, depending on the fragment in question.
The reconstructed fragments found at Deir el-Bahri (Figure 7.5.10) suggest the use of indurated limestone, a common material in Egyptian sculpture. Hatshepsut's statues, including her sphinx renditions at her mortuary temple, showcased traditional royal iconography such as the nemes headdress and royal beard.
These elements symbolized her reign as Pharaoh despite the common practice of depicting pharaohs with idealized, gender-neutral or male attributes.
Hatshepsut's reign from 1508-1458 BCE was characterized by extensive construction work, including her mortuary temple, where statues and sphinxes aligned the lower courtyard.
Her statues are found worldwide; while some showed her in typical noblewomen's dress, others portrayed her in royal attire, signifying her pharaoh status. Also notable is the giant obelisk at the Temple of Amun-Re in Karnak, which describes her story and is a testament to her legacy.