Statue of a Sphinx

myminifactory

In ancient Greek lore, a Sphinx is depicted with the head of a human, the robust haunches of a lion, and sometimes the wings of a majestic bird in flight. It's often mythologized as a treacherous and merciless creature. Those who fail to solve its riddle are doomed to suffer the same grim fate as others in similar mythological tales: they're brutally killed and devoured by this ferocious monster. This deadly version of the Sphinx appears prominently in the legend of Oedipus, where it's portrayed as a formidable foe. Unlike the female Greek Sphinx, which is typically shown as a woman, the Egyptian Sphinx is often depicted as a powerful male figure known as an androsphinx. Interestingly, the Egyptian Sphinx was revered as a benevolent creature with incredible strength, similar to its more menacing Greek counterpart, but both were believed to be fierce guardians that stood watch at temple entrances, their imposing presence striking awe in all who saw them.