The sphinx mythology - by Karma Bosman

Karma Bosman, 2014, Digital illustration, The Sphinx mythology

This week's Monster Monday was illustrated by Karma Bosman: Most of us commonly think of the Egyptian sphinx with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, guarding their pyramids. Few know there is also mention of her in Greek mythology.

There are different descriptions of the sphinx in mythology; she is said to have come from Ethiopia, with the body of a lion, the head and breasts of a woman, wings of an eagle, and in some cases, the tail of a snake.
In this version of the sphinx for our Monster Monday theme this month I tried to use these particular descriptions in the myths to create an embodiment of ancient imagination. Naturally the results were tweaked by my personal interpretation, hence an appearance unlike the depictions of the sphinx in Greek art, but I did try to keep this one traditional.

It is interesting to wonder how literally people took the stories during these times, and how exactly myths developed over time, as stories are passed on and always subject to change due to the inevitable interference of interpretation.