The Sphinx – Female Demon from Greek Mythology
31st January 2023
Categorized Under: Myths and Legends from Around the World
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THE SPHINX – FEMALE DEMON FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY
This creature is not only a powerful obstacle to beat but, to survive, one must necessarily overcome its intelligence and profound wisdom. The Sphinx is a fantastic creature from Greek mythology. She was a demon with the head of a woman; the body and claws resembled a lion, the wings of an eagle, and a serpent’s tail. Her face was pale, her mouth full of poison, and her eyes as burning coal reached the bottom of men’s souls while she kept hers surrounded by a great mystery.
She was sitting on an enormous rock on the outskirts of Thebes from where she terrorized the city inhabitants and destroyed their crops; Sometimes, she flew over the roads looking for travelers to satisfy her terrible appetite. Some could not enter or leave the city because as soon as the Sphinx saw someone on the roadway, she ordered them to solve a riddle. If the person did not know the answer, she would kill him, devour him, and throw his bones into a cave.
One day, a young man named Oedipus decided to visit the city, and as soon as he reached the city gates, the Sphinx told him, flapping her wings: If you want to come in, you must solve a riddle; if not, you will die: What creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs at night? It is the only one that can change the number of legs, but the bigger the number, the less speed and strength it has. Oedipus looked directly into her eyes and saw how she licked her lips, hoping to devour him, and without hesitation, he replied: The answer is the man; When he’s born, he crawls and walks on his four legs. As an adult, he walks with two legs, and in his old age, he uses his two legs and a cane to walk. The answer was correct. The Sphinx screamed in rage and was so frustrated that she jumped off the great rock, fell to the ground, and died. The people of Thebes then opened the city gates, thanked Oedipus for freeing them, and he was crowned king.
AUTHOR: GREEK MYTHOLOGY
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