Sphinx senior society
From Free net encyclopedia
Sphinx is a senior society made up of seniors at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, located on East Wheelock street. The Sphinx Temple was designed by William M. Butterfield and constructed in 1903 and reflects the Egyptian-revival architecture popular during the mid-nineteenth century. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Sphinx was founded in 1886 by 14 students. On Easter morning in 1932, a fire broke out in the building, known as the "the tomb." The interior was destroyed but fortunately rebuilt. The tomb was closed again during World War II, but in 1946 was reopened.
Borrowing traditions from Mardi Gras celebrants in New Orleans, the society's members organized themselves as krewes, wore bead necklaces, and addressed each other as "frater." Membership in the Sphinx is secret. Members are asked to join the Sphinx during the winter of their junior year in a process know as "being tapped".
The Sphinx is one of several secret senior societies on the Dartmouth Campus, others including, Dragon Senior Society and Phoenix Senior Society. Similar senior societies are found on other Ivy League campuses, such as Skull & Bones, located at Yale University.