Riddle of the Sphinx / Myth. Short summary

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The Sphinx, a demon of destruction, terrifies the entire population of Thebes by riddling its companions and devouring all who do not answer. Upon hearing the correct answer from a mere mortal, the monster throws itself into the abyss.

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Mentions of the Sphinx are found in the myths of Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt and even India. In some he is the demon of destruction, in others he is the guardian of the pyramids, and in others he is the protector of the people.

The Sphinx is a terrible monster, born of the giant Tiphon and his wife, Echidna. It is portrayed as a woman (in Greek mythology) or a man (Egyptian). This monster had the body of a lion, a human head, wings and the tail of a snake (in India it was attributed features of a cow). The sphinx dwelt on the Mount of Thebes. In order to pass by it, one had to answer a riddle.

Anyone who could not do so was devoured by the demon. One day Oedipus came to the Sphinx. And he was able to solve the riddle. «It is a man,» he said. The monster could not bear the fact that a mere mortal was more cunning and wiser than he, so he threw himself into the abyss and crashed to his death.