View source for Sphinx (5e24)

{{edition|Sphinx}}
{{5e24varied|canon=true|sources=SRD 5.2, MM5e24}}<br clear="right" />
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[[File:Sphinx colorisé.jpg|thumb|180px|Sphinx<br />by Ipipipourax<br />via MediaWiki Commons<br />Licensed: [[CC-BY-SA]] ]]
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{{5e24 Creature Short|Sphinx|Sphinx|Overview|Celestial, Sphinx
|refs=<ref name="srd52">{{Cite Pub|SRD 5.2|pages=324-325}} Licensed: [[CC-BY]].</ref><ref name="mm5e24.291.294">{{Cite Pub|Monster Manual (5e24)|pages=291-294}}</ref>
|habitat=Desert, Planar
|plane=Upper Plane
|treasure=Arcana
|summary=Sphinxes are {{5e24lc|Celestial}} beings that usually appear as winged {{5e24|Great Cat}}s often with anthropoid heads. They are tasked with protecting important, sacred, or dangerous areas and/or objects.
}}

==Lore==
'''Unofficial Description:''' Sphinxes are {{5e24lc|Celestial}} beings that usually appear as winged {{5e24|Great Cat}}s often with anthropoid heads. They are tasked with protecting important, sacred, or dangerous areas and/or objects.

==Lair==
Some sphinx have lairs.<br />
{{:Sphinx (5e24)/Lair}}

===Other Lore===
{{otherlore|Sphinxes are enigmatic creatures with great, feathery wings and leonine bodies. All sphinxes are territorial, but the more intelligent ones can differentiate between deliberate intrusion and temporary or inadvertent trespass.

A typical sphinx is about 10 feet long and weighs about 800 pounds.

Most sphinxes fight on the ground, using their wings to help them pounce much as lions do. If outnumbered by earthbound creatures, a sphinx takes wing and attacks on the fly.|{{SRD3ref}}|3.5e lore|margin=200px}}
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{{otherlore|A '''sphinx''' (<!--{{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|f|ɪ|ŋ|k|s}}}} {{respell|-->SFINGKS<!--}}, {{lang-grc|σφίγξ}} {{IPA-el|spʰíŋks|}}, [[Aeolic Greek|Boeotian]]: {{lang|grc|φίξ}} {{IPA-grc|pʰíːks|}}-->, plural '''sphinxes''' or '''sphinges''') is a [[mythical creature]] with the head of a {{srd5lc|Human}} and the body of a {{srd5lc|Lion}}.

In [[Culture of Greece|Greek tradition]], the sphinx has the head of a woman, the [[haunches]] of a lion, and the wings of a [[bird]]. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless. Those who cannot answer her [[riddle]] suffer a fate typical in such mythological stories, as they are killed and eaten by this ravenous monster.<ref>{{cite <!--web-->|url=http://people.hsc.edu/drjclassics/texts/Oedipus/sphinx.shtm |title=Dr. J's Lecture on Oedipus and the Sphinx |publisher=People.hsc.edu |accessdate=15 May 2014}}</ref> This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of [[Oedipus]].<ref>Kallich, Martin. "Oepidus and the Sphinx." Oepidus: Myth and Drama. N.p.: Western, 1968. N. pag. Print.</ref>

Unlike the Greek sphinx, which was a woman, the Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man (an '''androsphinx'''<!-- ({{lang-grc|ανδρόσφιγξ}})-->). In addition, the Egyptian sphinx was viewed as benevolent, but having a ferocious strength similar to the malevolent Greek version.  Both were thought of as guardians, and often flank the entrances to temples.<ref>Stewart, Desmond. Pyramids and the Sphinx. [S.l.]: Newsweek, U.S., 72. Print.</ref>

In European decorative art, the sphinx enjoyed a major revival during the [[Renaissance]]. Later, the sphinx image, initially very similar to the original Ancient Egyptian concept, was exported into many other cultures, albeit there often interpreted quite differently due to translations of descriptions of the originals and through evolution of the concept in relation to other cultural traditions.

Sphinx depictions are generally associated with architectural structures such as royal [[tomb]]s or religious temples.|<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx Wikipedia - Sphinx] ''(exerpt, accessed 2020-04-03)''</ref>|Wikipedia}}

===Found in Adventures===
{{5e24 Creature Adventure List|Sphinx}}

==List of Sphinxes==
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{{5e24 Creature List|Sphinx}}
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==Sources and Notes==
<references />
{{5e24 Footer|Celestial|Varied}}
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Author	SRD 5.2, MM5e24 +
Creature Name	Sphinx Overview +
Habitat	Desert + and Planar +
Name	Sphinx Overview +
Plane	Upper Plane +
Publication	SRD 5.2, MM5e24 +
SortText	Sphinx AAA Overview 5e24 +
Subtype	Celestial + and Sphinx +
Summary	Sphinxes are celestial beings that usually appear as winged Great Cats often with anthropoid heads. They are tasked with protecting important, sacred, or dangerous areas and/or objects. +
Treasure	Arcana +
Type	Overview +