The Sphinx: The Riddler of Thebes
The Guardian of the Gate
The Sphinx is a monster of intellect. She is a chimera: the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. Unlike the mindless beasts of Greek myth, she does not fight. She sits on a rock outside the city of Thebes and waits. She will not let anyone enter or leave without passing a test.
The Plague of Riddles
She held the city hostage with a single question. "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?" For years, travelers tried to answer. Those who failed were strangled and devoured. The road to Thebes became a graveyard of the ignorant.
Oedipus and the Answer
Oedipus, the tragic hero, approached her. He listened to the riddle and answered calmly: "Man."
- Morning (Infancy): A baby crawls on four limbs.
- Noon (Adulthood): An adult walks on two legs.
- Evening (Old Age): An elder walks with a cane (the third leg).
The Death of Mystery
The Sphinx's power lay in her mystery. Once the riddle was solved, she was broken. In a fit of despair and rage, she threw herself from her high perch and shattered on the rocks below. She could not exist in a world where she was understood.
The Final Warning
Most monsters test your sword arm; the Sphinx tests the limits of your mind. She guards the threshold where knowledge ends and death begins. If you face a problem that seems impossible, put down your weapon. Violence will not save you, but a moment of clarity might, for ignorance is fatal.
