Episode 7: The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 7 – The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes

In this seventh episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos delves into one of Savannah’s most tantalizing historical enigmas: the whereabouts of the missing Greenwich Sphinxes. After tracing the 19-piece statue collection recovered from the estate, Jessica uncovers the lesser-known fragments of Greenwich — wrought iron planters, marble columns, and architectural remnants lost to fire, neglect, or rumor. But it is the pair of Egyptian Sphinxes, glimpsed in archival photographs and silent film, that sparks her obsessive quest.

Joining Jessica is Savannah historian Hugh Golson, whose lifetime of research into the city’s architecture and antiques offers new insight into the statues’ journey. From early 20th-century newspapers to the memories of local families, Hugh pieces together a story spanning decades, revealing that these enigmatic sculptures once graced private homes long after they vanished from public view. Along the way, listeners encounter Savannah’s quirky, colorful personalities, from graveyard directors to civic preservationists, each adding texture to the Sphinxes’ tale.

Jessica and Hugh also explore the broader cultural fascination with Egyptian motifs in America during the Gilded Age, situating the Greenwich Sphinxes within a national trend of Egyptian-inspired art, architecture, and decorative objects. Were the statues truly ancient, or beautifully crafted products of 19th-century collectors’ ambitions? Through photographs, archival research, and expert insight, the episode examines authenticity, provenance, and the ways stories of art and history intertwine with Savannah’s local lore.

This episode invites listeners to wander the thin line between myth and reality, reminding us that history is not only about what survives — it’s about what we choose to remember, preserve, and seek out. The Sphinxes’ story is far from over, and Jessica teases the next chapter in their remarkable and mysterious journey.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction: The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes

00:05 Uncovering the Greenwich Collection

00:44 The Disappearance of the Sphinxes

01:58 Historical Insights from Hugh Golson

03:27 The Forsyth Park Sphinxes

06:34 The Greenwich Sphinxes Resurface

09:11 The Sphinxes' Journey to Augusta

12:54 Modern-Day Mysteries and Speculations

15:59 Conclusion: The Ongoing Mystery