Sphinxes

Sphinxes are legendary creatures characterized by a lion’s body and a human head. In Greek and later Western tradition, some sphinxes are depicted with wings, though not all variants include them. The term is Greek in origin, and the concept has roots in Near Eastern and Egyptian art, where sphinx-like figures served as guardians rather than enigmas. The phrase “sphinx” is often used to describe creatures that share lionine bodies and human heads, whether in myth, sculpture, or fantasy literature.

Egyptian sphinxes functioned as monumental guardians at temples and tombs, linking royal power to protective animal imagery. They typically present a lion’s body with a human head, often wearing the royal nemes headdress. These statues face outward to ward off danger and symbolize strength, protection, and the connection between the pharaoh and the divine. The Great Sphinx of Giza, dated to the reign of Khafre (c. 2558–2532 BCE), is the best-known example and a enduring emblem of royal guardianship.

In Greek mythology, the sphinx is a monster that posed riddles to travelers, rewarding or punishing those who answered or failed. The most famous tale concerns the Theban Sphinx, a female figure with a lion’s body who demanded a riddle from passersby; Oedipus answered correctly and the sphinx perished. In other accounts, sphinxes appear as wise or enigmatic guardians rather than purely malevolent beings.

Today, sphinxes appear in literature, art, and gaming as symbolic or fantastical beings. The term is used for creatures sharing the same hybrid form or as a metaphor for mystery and intrigue, depending on context.