The Sphinx

This is the Sphinx usually depicted with the body of a lion or a lioness and with the head of a human. It was an Egyptian monster although it is said that it is one of the monsters of Echidna and Typhon. The Ancient Greeks called it the "strangler". The picture on the left is the Greek Sphinx.

In Egyptian mythology is usually depicted with the body of a lion and a head of a human. Sometimes the head maybe of a falcon, hawk or a ram.
They were related to the deity Sekhmet which had a lion's head and was the god of warfare. The Sphinx had the role of temple guardians or tomb guardians. The Great Sphinx of Giza were on such example.

Other popular sphinxes are the one who bears the head of pharaoh Hatsheput and the sphinx of Memphis.

The Egyptian Sphinxes were guardians of temples. As you know there are other Sphinxes throughout the world.


The First picture is the picture of a Greek Sphinx. The Greek Sphinx was also considered as the offapring of Typhon and Echidna. The word "Sphinx" means to strangle. This name may have originated from the lions that strangle their victims to death. In Greek mythology the Sphinx is considered as a creature of bad luck.