Sphinx
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In Greek mythology, the Sphinx is a creature with the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a woman, known for her association with riddles and her role in the myth of Oedipus. The most famous story involving the Sphinx occurs in Thebes, where the creature was sent by the goddess Hera to terrorize the city. The Sphinx perched on a rock outside Thebes and posed a riddle to anyone who passed by. The riddle was: “What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?” Anyone who failed to answer the riddle correctly would be devoured by the Sphinx.
The people of Thebes were desperate, as many had been eaten by the creature after failing to solve the riddle. The hero Oedipus eventually arrived at Thebes and, upon hearing the riddle, correctly answered: “Man, who crawls on all fours as an infant, walks on two legs as an adult, and uses a cane in old age.” This answer baffled the Sphinx, who, in her rage and defeat, threw herself off the rock and perished, thus ending her reign of terror over Thebes.
The Sphinx, with her mysterious and dangerous nature, embodies themes of knowledge, fate, and the perilous consequences of wisdom and understanding. In many versions of the myth, the creature is seen as a symbol of the inescapable dangers of fate and the need for cleverness and intelligence to overcome challenges. The Sphinx was often depicted in art and literature, sometimes as a formidable and enigmatic figure, and her role in Oedipus’ story was pivotal in shaping his tragic destiny.
In addition to the myth of Oedipus, the Sphinx also appears in earlier myths, such as those in Egyptian mythology, where the Sphinx was a symbol of royal power and wisdom, often linked with the pharaohs. The Greek interpretation, however, centers more on the theme of intellectual challenge and the dangers of riddles and secrets.
 Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes III Circa 230-220 BCE Æ 5.04g, 20mm, 12h Head to right, wearing bashlyk / Goddess facing between two seated sphinxes; [ΒΑ]ΣΙΛ[ΕΩΣ] to right, [A]ΡIAPAΘ[OY] to left, TY above, [ANA] in exergue. Simonetta 5b = Simonetta, Coins 5; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 632 = SNG von Aulock 6258; HGC 7, 801 Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung 2012 Ex Fortuna Fine Arts (New York) Ex Roma 2019 Ex Roma 2022 |
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