The Mysterious Riddles of the Sphinx
What is the Sphinx?
The Sphinx is an ancient stone sculpture located in the city of Giza in Egypt. It is believed to be the oldest and largest monolith in the world, dating back to at least 2600 BC. It is a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. The Sphinx is a symbol of strength, wisdom, and power, and over the centuries it has become a popular icon in popular culture.
The Riddles of the Sphinx
The Sphinx is most famous for the riddles it poses to those who come before it. According to Greek mythology, it asked a riddle to travellers who were trying to pass by it. If the traveller could answer the riddle correctly, then they would be allowed to pass. If the traveller could not answer the riddle, the Sphinx would devour them.
The most famous riddle posed by the Sphinx is “What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?” The answer is a human, who crawls as a baby, walks as an adult, and uses a cane as an elderly person. Other riddles attributed to the Sphinx include “What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you'll die?” The answer to this riddle is nothing.
The History of the Riddles
The riddles of the Sphinx have been around since Ancient Greece and have been featured in numerous works of literature and art. The most famous use of the riddles is in Oedipus Rex, a play by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. In the play, Oedipus is asked the riddle by the Sphinx, and he answers it correctly, resulting in the Sphinx leaving Thebes and allowing Oedipus to become king. The riddles of the Sphinx have been featured in other works of literature, such as the stories of the Arabian Nights and the poems of Edgar Allan Poe.
The Meaning of the Riddles
The riddles posed by the Sphinx are often seen as a metaphor for life. Each riddle has a moral lesson or insight into human life. For example, the riddle about the human walking on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening is seen as a metaphor for the stages of life, from childhood to old age. Similarly, the riddle about what is greater than God and more evil than the devil is seen as a metaphor for the power of nothingness, and how it can be more powerful than any other force.
Conclusion
The riddles posed by the Sphinx have been around for centuries, and have been featured in various works of literature and art. The riddles are often seen as metaphors for life, and offer insight into the human experience. So the next time you come across a riddle, take a moment to reflect on what it might be teaching you.