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| Photo by Stephen Bohn |
One of two Sphinx statues guarding the Elbe River entrance to the Pillnitz Castle and Park. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx was part woman, and guarded the entrance to the temple of Thebes by asking a riddle. Those who failed to answer correctly were strangled and devoured by the Sphinx. In late Greek history, the riddle became: Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed? Oedipus solved the riddle when he answered: Man, because he crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two feet as a adult and uses a cane in old age.
