The Greek Sphinx (not to be confused with the Egyptian sphinx) is a mythical creature with the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. It is most famous for its role in the myth of Oedipus, where it is depicted as a malevolent force that terrorizes the city of Thebes. The Sphinx sat on a rock outside the city and posed a riddle to travelers. The riddle was: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?" Those who could not answer correctly were devoured by the Sphinx.
Oedipus, a prince of Thebes, eventually encountered the Sphinx and correctly answered the riddle: "Man," who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and uses a cane in old age. With the riddle solved, the Sphinx destroyed herself, either by throwing herself off the rock or by devouring herself, depending on the version of the myth. This act freed Thebes from her terror, and Oedipus was hailed as a hero, eventually becoming the king of Thebes.
