Mythological creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion
This article is about sphinxes in general. For the great sphinx statue at Giza, see Great Sphinx of Giza. For other uses, see Sphinx (disambiguation).
Sphinx
Attic red-figure pyxis, 2nd half of the 5th century BC. From Nola, Italy.
Grouping
Legendary creatures
Similar entities
Griffin, Manticore, Cherub, Lamassu, Narasimha
Region
Persian, Egyptian, and Greek
A sphinx (/sfɪŋks/SFINKS; Ancient Greek: σφίγξ, pronounced[spʰíŋks]; Boeotian: φίξ, romanized: phíx, pronounced[pʰíːks]; pl. sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle.
In Greek tradition, the sphinx is a treacherous and merciless being with the head of a woman, the haunches of a lion, and the wings of a bird. According to Greek myth, she challenges those who encounter her to answer a riddle, and kills and eats them when they fail to solve the riddle.[1] This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of Oedipus.[2]
In Egyptian mythology, in contrast, the sphinx is typically depicted as a man (an androsphinx (Ancient Greek: ανδρόσφιγξ)), and is seen as a benevolent representation of strength and ferocity, usually of a pharaoh. Unlike Greek or Levantine/Mesopotamian ones, Egyptian sphinxes were not winged.
Both the Greek and Egyptian sphinxes were thought of as guardians, and statues of them often flank the entrances to temples.[3] During the Renaissance, the sphinx enjoyed a major revival in European decorative art. During this period, images of the sphinx were initially similar to the ancient Egyptian version, but when later exported to other cultures, the sphinx was often conceived of quite differently, partly due to varied translations of descriptions of the originals, and partly through the evolution of the concept as it was integrated into other cultural traditions.
However, depictions of the sphinx are generally associated with grand architectural structures, such as royal tombs or religious temples.
^"Dr. J's Lecture on Oedipus and the Sphinx". People.hsc.edu. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
^Kallich, Martin. "Oedipus and the Sphinx." Oedipus: Myth and Drama. N.p.: Western, 1968. N. pag. Print.
^Stewart, Desmond. Pyramids and the Sphinx. [S.l.]: Newsweek, U.S., 72. Print.
A sphinx (/sfɪŋks/ SFINKS; Ancient Greek: σφίγξ, pronounced [spʰíŋks]; Boeotian: φίξ, romanized: phíx, pronounced [pʰíːks]; pl. sphinxes or sphinges) is...
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