Oedipus was the adopted son of King Polybus, King of Corinth. When he was young, Oedipus learned that he was adopted and went out of his home to learn more about his past. In his jouney he arrived to a place called Thebes, which was actually where he was from (but he didn’t know it yet). Thebes had an impressive wall to keep the enemies out, but unfortunately for the people of Thebes it was also used to keep them all in the city!

A fearsome beast called a sphinx was the guardian of the city and did not let anyone in or out! The only way to beat the sphinx was to answer a riddle correctly. Everyone had failed and had been eaten by the sphinx! 

So Oedipus arrived at the gates of Thebes and the terrible creature appeared in front of him. She had the head of a woman, but her body was of a lion, covered in soft fur, had powerful muscles and long sharp claws. She had these big powerful wings on her back and looked like an eagle, and her tail was like a snake!

“Can I go 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 frightened 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?”