The mythological creature known as the sphinx is an important figure in both Greek and Egyptian legend and art. It has a lion's body and a human head. The word was derived from the Greek word "to bind" or "to squeeze," but its origin is not related to the legend. The earliest known mention of the creature was by Hesiod.

The story of the sphinx of Thebes, which is regarded as the most famous figure in legend, revolves around the creature's terrifying behaviour when it demanded the correct answer to a riddle that was taught to it by the Muses. Failing to answer that question would lead to the sphinx devouring the person. The legend of the sphinx being an omniscient being has grown, and its wisdom still remains relevant today.

In Greek mythology, the sphinx is depicted as a woman's head instead of a man's. It also has the wings of an eagle and the tail and body of a lion. According to Pliny the Elder, Ethiopia produces numerous sphinxes, and experts from the 20th century have confirmed that the creatures have brown hair and breasts based on archaeological findings.

According to Statius, the sphinx is a winged creature with a long tail and a cloud of gore resting on its face. Its wings are sometimes described as those of an eagle and a serpent-headed tail.

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