The+Sphinx

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 * The Sphinx (The Strangler)

The Sphinx is a Greek mythological figure with the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. If you answer it's riddle wrong, it will strangle you. No joke. Some argue that it was grumpy because it was one of the uglier monsters in Greek mythology.

=Origin= Typhon (top) and Echidna (bottom) http://www.maravot.com/Etruscan_mural_typhon2.gif, http://listsoplenty.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/echidna.jpg = = The Sphinx was the product of two even uglier monsters, Typhon and Echidna. The other examples fo the offspring of Echidna are the Nemean Lion, Cerberus, Ladon, Chimeara and The Hydra.

= Powers = Obviously, the Sphinx can fly around and kill people with it's claws, but it prefers to strangle them using it's powerful tail. It can also ask a riddle that is very hard, but if you answer it, it will kill itself.

Role in Oedipus Rex Oedipus and the Sphinx by Gustave Moreau

In the story of Oedipus, The sphinx was a monster that was plaguing the city of Tebes. It crouched on top of a rock on the way to Tebes and challenged any traveler that came with a riddle. If they were not able to answer it, the Sphinx would proceed to strangle them.

When Oedipus heard of this, he boldly came and challenged the Sphinx even though no one had been able to answer the riddle before.

He was able to correctly answer the riddle, after which the Sphinx killed itself out of mortification. Oedipus was deemed a hero by the people and made king of Tebes and married his mother, Queen Jocasta.

The Riddle " What animal is that which in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three" -Sphinx Answer of Oedipus: " Man, who in childhood creeps on hands and knees, in manhood walks erect, and in old age with the aid of a staff."

Other Sphinxes The name Sphinx is more commonly attributed to the Egyptian statue with the head of the king and the body of a lion. Also, there are other sphinxes in other cultures like the Scottish Sphinx and the Russian Sphinx.

Sources http://www.online-mythology.com/sphinx/ http://www.mythicalrealm.com/images-2/sphinxrussiastpetersburg.jpg