53 Cracking The Sphinx Riddle: Unveiling Ancient Enigmas in Greek Mythology

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Are you into mythology? How much do you know about Greek mythology? Have you read about the Sphinx?

If you don’t know much about Greek mythology and the Sphinx, don’t worry. By the end of this article, you will know all about it!

I love reading novels and dramas. There is something about history and mythology that never fails to attract me. It grabs my attention when it’s related to mythology.

I feel amazed reading about the things that have happened in the past, which is why I want to visit Egypt and see the pyramids someday.

You will encounter many gods, goddesses, kings, queens, and monsters in Greek mythology. Today, I’ll talk specifically about the Sphinx and its riddles.

The Sphinx Riddles: All You Need to Know

Before I get down to the riddles, let me briefly explain the myth of the Sphinx.
It was a mythical monster with a lion’s body and a human’s head. It has its mention in both Greek and Egyptian mythology.

According to Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx symbolizes a specific entity. It protected the pyramids. Also, it is said that the Sphinx represented the divine power of the pharaoh.

According to Greek mythology, this monster was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Other monsters this couple bore were the multiple-headed dog Orthus, Chimera, Hydra, and Gorgons.

Have you read about the famous tragedies by Sophocles Oedipus Rex?

He was the one who killed his father and married his mother without knowing that they were their parents.

Oedipus was the son of Queen Jocasta and king Laius. When the king learns about the prophecy that his son will kill him, he sends his people to leave his infant on a mountain where he can die.

But as destiny has other plans, Oedipus is found by a shepherd who raises him as his child. Later, when Oedipus learns about the prophecy, he leaves his parents to ensure he never harms them. He didn’t know they were not his birth parents.

On his way to Thebes, he killed King Laius, his biological father, and married his biological mother.

Now, the Sphinx dwelt outside Thebes, and anyone who wanted to enter the city had to answer its riddles. And if they failed to give the right answers, it would swallow them.

The Famous Sphinx Riddle For Oedipus

The Famous Sphinx Riddle For Oedipus

According to the tragedy of Oedipus, the Sphinx was sent to the ancient city of Thebes by the goddess so that it could plague the people there.

An ancient crime and plague by the monster sphinx was its punishment.

So the Sphinx guarded the city of Thebes with a riddle that it came to know from the Muses. It made sure that no one could enter or leave the city.

Now, Oedipus was the one who managed to provide the right answer to the sphinx riddle. And this section is all about that.

Read on to learn what the famous riddle of the Sphinx was! 18

“What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?”

Man.

“What is that which in the morning goeth upon four feet; upon two feet in the afternoon; and in the evening upon three?”

Man.

“There is a certain creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening. What is it?”

Man.

“What animal is that which in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three?”

Man.

“What is it that has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?”

Man.

“What being is there, in which man sits, and moves on all fours in infancy, on two feet when grown up, and on three in old age?”

Man.

“This creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed. What is it?”

Man.

“There is a being that has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed. What is it?”

Man.

“What being has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?”

Man.

“Who is that creature which walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three at evening?”

Man.

“What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?”

Man.

“What goes on four legs at dawn, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?”

Man.

“Who is it that in the morning goes on four legs, at midday on two, and in the evening on three?”

Man.

“I am the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening. Who am I?”

Man.

“There is a certain creature that in the morning walks on four legs, at noon on two legs, and in the evening on three legs. Who is it?”

Man.

“What has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?”

Man.

“There is a creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening. What is it?”

Man.

“There is a being that has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed. Who is it?”

Man.

These riddles were part of the famous Sphinx riddle in Greek mythology, challenging Oedipus and posing a significant role in the story.

Easy Sphinx Riddles

Easy Sphinx Riddles

Riddles can be both easy and difficult. The easier ones are perfect for kids to solve. And you know how kids love solving riddles, right?

When you need time to enjoy yourself at a party or with friends, it becomes important for you to keep your kids busy.

Riddles can help you with that.

Riddles make kids think about the answers by using their brains. They remain engaged and happy throughout.

And this is when you can get at least some minutes to yourself. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

The following list has some of the easiest sphinx riddles you can share with kids or adults who prefer solving easy riddles.

What is as light as a feather, but even the strongest person can’t hold it for long?

Breath.

What can you catch but not throw?

A cold.

I have a single eye, but I cannot see. I am found in darkness, but never in light. What am I?

A needle.

What has a thumb and four fingers but is not alive?

A glove.

I am taken from a mine and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?

Pencil lead/graphite.

What is so delicate that saying its name breaks it?

Silence.

What can you keep after giving to someone?

Your word.

What goes up but never comes down?

Your age.

What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs?

A clock.

What has keys but can’t open any doors?

A piano.

I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I?

A candle.

I am black when you buy me, red when you use me, and gray when you throw me away. What am I?

Charcoal.

What gets wetter the more it dries?

A towel.

What has hands but cannot clap?

A clock.

What has a bottom at the top?

Your legs.

What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?

A promise.

What belongs to you but others use it more than you do?

Your name.

What can you catch, but not throw?

A cold.

What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, and has a head but never weeps?

A river.

Sphinx Riddles in Books, Media, And Mythology

Sphinx Riddles in Books, Media, And Mythology

The riddles of the Sphinx are not limited to mythology or the “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles. Some modern games and media have incorporated the much-talked-about sphinx riddles in them.

You can find sphinx riddles in Harry Potter, Gods of Egypt, and more.

Some of these riddles are difficult and may take time to come to an answer. But don’t worry. You only need a clear and sharp mind to solve them. If you can’t find the right answers, I have added them to the following list.

“What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?”

A penny.

“I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?”

An echo.

“I have cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and rivers but no water. What am I?”

A map.

“I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but you can’t go outside. What am I?”

A keyboard.

“I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?”

A joke.

“I am full of holes but still holds water. What am I?”

A sponge.

“I can fly without wings, cry without eyes, and see without a body. What am I?”

Clouds.

“The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?”

Footsteps.

“I have a single eye, but cannot see. I am found in darkness, but never in light. What am I?”

A needle.

“I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation and surround every place. What am I?”

The letter “e”.

“What has a heart that doesn’t beat?”

A deck of cards.

“I’m as light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for much longer than a minute. What am I?”

Breath.

“I am alive without breath, and cold as death. I am never thirsty, but always drinking. What am I?”

A fish.

“What has keys but can’t open locks?”

A piano.

“I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?”

A joke.

“I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch will soon turn red. What am I?”

Fire.

Conclusion

Mythology is one of my favorite things to read about. And when it’s about a sphinx riddle related to mythology, things become all the more interesting for me.

If you are fond of riddles and mythology like me, you would like the riddles I have listed here.

Have I missed anything? If you think I have, you can add it to the comments!

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