The Mythical Story of the SphinxThe

The Mythical Story of the SphinxThe Sphinx was an ancient Egyptian divinity, who personified wisdom, and the fertility of nature. She is represented as a lion-couchant, with the head and bust of a woman, and wears a peculiar sort of hood, which completely envelops her head, and falls down on either side of the face.Transplanted into Greece, this sublime and mysterious Egyptian deity degenerates into an insignificant, and yet malignant power, and though she also deals in mysteries, they are, as we shall see, of a totally different character, and altogether inimical to human life.The Sphinx is represented, according to Greek genealogy, as the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Hera, being upon one occasion displeased with thebans, sent them this awful monster, as a punishment for their offences. Taking her seat on a rocky eminence near the city of Thebes, commanding a pass which thebans were compelled to traverse in their usual way of business, she propounded to all comers a riddle, and if they failed to solve it, she tore them in pieces.

The Mythical Story of the Sphinx
The Sphinx was an Ancient Egyptian Divinity, Who personified Wisdom, and the fertility of nature. She is represented as a lion-Couchant, with the head and Bust of a Woman, and wears a Peculiar sort of Hood, which completely envelops Her head, and Falls down on either Side of the Face. Transplanted Into Greece, this Sublime and mysterious. Egyptian Deity degenerates Into an insignificant, and yet malignant Power, and though She also deals in Mysteries, they are, as we Shall See, of a totally different Character, and altogether Inimical to Human Life. The Sphinx is represented, according to Greek Genealogy. , as the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Hera, being upon one occasion displeased with thebans, sent them this awful monster, as a punishment for their offences. Taking her seat on a rocky eminence near the city of Thebes, commanding a pass which thebans were compelled to traverse in their usual way of business, she propounded to all comers a riddle, and if they failed to solve it, she tore them in pieces. .