The Sphinx: Guardian of the Riddle

In the heart of ancient Greek mythology lies the tale of the Sphinx, a fearsome and enigmatic creature with the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the face of a woman. She was not merely a beast but a sentinel of wisdom and terror, stationed at the gates of Thebes. Her purpose? To challenge all who approached with a riddle so cunning that failure meant death.

The riddle she posed was legendary: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?" Countless travellers, brave yet unprepared, met their doom, unable to unravel the mystery.

Then came Oedipus, a man of wit and courage. When the Sphinx presented her question, he replied confidently, "Man. As a baby, he crawls on all fours; as an adult, he walks on two legs; and in old age, he uses a cane, thus three legs." His answer struck at the very heart of the Sphinx’s power. Defeated and humiliated, the Sphinx leapt to her death from the cliffs, freeing Thebes from her deadly grasp.

This victory was not merely a triumph over a creature but a testament to the power of intellect and perseverance. Oedipus’s cleverness earned him fame and the throne of Thebes, though his later story would spiral into tragedy.

The tale of the Sphinx remains a powerful symbol of the human capacity to overcome challenges through wit and insight. Her riddle, much like life itself, reminds us that wisdom grows as we journey through the stages of existence.

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