X is in Sphinx

az15_Sphinx
taken by Ricardo André Frantz (wikimedia User:Tetraktys), 2006 Creative Commons 3.0 license

Diana Beebe, Mermaids Don't Do Windows, MDDW, Diana Beebe's Blog, science fiction, fantasy, young adultIn all the legendary creatures, the ones that start with the letter X can be included on a short list. I couldn’t find one that was a chimera-like creature.

The Sphinx will have to do for the letter X.

In Greek mythology, this merciless creature has the haunches of a lion, sometimes with the wings of a great bird, and the face of a woman. People who couldn’t answer its riddle are killed.

The Egyptian sphinx had the face of a man and was benevolent. I’m not sure what that means. He guarded an entry, but let people in if they were polite? Maybe that’s why the Egyptian pharaohs hid their tombs, because they knew the sphinx was a pushover. 😛

Both had ferocious strength and were guardians, often flanking the entrances to temples.

Sources:

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx
  • http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:028MAD_Sphinx.jpg

What are some good riddles that the sphinx could ask?

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