Oedipus was the adopted son of King Polybus, who ruled over a place called Corinth. When he was grown up Oedipus learned that he was adopted and left his home to try and learn more about his past. His journey took him to a place called Thebes, which was actually where he was from (though he didn’t know it yet). Thebes had quite an impressive wall all the way around it, which was meant to keep the enemies out, but unfortunately for the people of Thebes it was also being used to keep them all in!
A fearsome beast called a sphinx was guarding the city and would not let anyone in or out! The only way to beat the sphinx was to answer a riddle correctly. Everyone who had tried had failed and had been eaten by the sphinx!
So Oedipus approached the gates of Thebes and a terrible creature appeared in front of him. She had the head of a woman, but her body was feline, covered in soft fur, had powerful muscles and long sharp claws. She had these big powerful wings on her back that looked like they belonged to an eagle, and her tail was like a snake’s!
“Can I get into the city?” Oedipus asked.
“Only if you answer my riddle.” The sphinx thundered, “and if you fail I WILL EAT YOU!”
Oedipus was a little bit taken aback by the sphinx but he was also very brave and clever, so he accepted the sphinx’s challenge.
“What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?”
Oedipus thought for a moment before he answered, “Well the answer must be a human! When a person is born they crawl on all fours, then they walk on two when they grow up, but when they get old they need a cane to walk with so they have three legs!”
“AAAAHHHHHH!” screamed the sphinx for Oedipus had guessed her riddle correctly. She stormed off in a mad rage, for she did not like being bested, and left the city of Thebes behind for good.
Sources
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Oedipus/oedipus.html
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