Sphinx

Sphinx ("THE STRANGLER") is met with in Egyptian and in Greek mythology, though it is doubtful if there is more than an accidental connection between the two. The Greek Sphinx has the body of a lion, the face and bust of a woman, and is winged. The story goes that the Sphinx haunted Boeotia and tormented people with the conundrum, "What goes on four legs in the morning, two at noon, three at night? OEdipus solved it, thereby bringing woe upon himself, and the Sphinx, having no no further object in life, killed herself. The Egyptian Sphinx is not winged, has a human head, male or female, surmounted by an Egyptian head-dress, and a lion's body. Its Egyptian name is equivalent to "lord" or "master." These figures were often used at the entries of temples. The well-known Sphinx at Gizeh is 150 feet long and 63 feet high, - The Louvre possesses one of red granite 22 feet long.