Mystery of the Sphinxes

Sphinx, Piazza del Popolo, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)


16 identical marble Sphinxes sit atop a wall that surrounds the 
Piazza del Popolo in Rome. These statues give the outdoor space an 
Egyptian flavor, complementing an authentic obelisk from ancient Heliopolis 
that stands in the square. 

Sphinxes and mysteries seem to go together. To me, the mystery of these sphinxes is whose face is represented on these sculptures. Is it the artist himself, Guiseppe Valadier, or is it a politician... or maybe a war hero? The profile looks classically Roman, so it can't be some guy from Ohio.


And another mystery... what the heck came first, the chicken or the egg?


I know one mystery that needs to be solved as soon as possible... where the nearest frothy cup of cappuccino can be found!