Riddle of the Sphinx: what is it that goes on four legs in the morning, on two at midday, and on three in the evening. (Man, who crawls as a child, walks in middle life, and walks with a stick in old age.) — Mythoi

Motif

Riddle of the Sphinx: what is it that goes on four legs in the morning, on two at midday, and on three in the evening. (Man, who crawls as a child, walks in middle life, and walks with a stick in old age.)

Tests. · Tests of cleverness. · Riddles. · Metaphorical riddles. · view the constellation · filed as H761

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed

Greco-Roman The Library (Bibliotheca) , BOOK III, ch. V

Filed across the traditions

Gascon Bladé I 10 No. 1.
Greek Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1 Köhler-Bolte I 115 → on our shelf: The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK III, ch. VI
general **Aarne FFC XXVII 3ff.
general **Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx
general Fb "menneske" II 578a.

Within the index

Filed under Metaphorical riddles.

1 finer motif beneath it

Riddle: two are better than three (two legs better than man with staff in old age)

Filed beside it

Riddle of the year Riddle of the day and night. (Cf. H721.1, H721.2, H721.4.) Riddle of the course of the sun Riddle: who are the real travellers? The son and the moon Riddle of king and courtiers Riddle: what is the mother who devours her children when they grow up? (Ocean and rivers.) Riddle white field, black seed. (Paper with writing.) Riddle: two legs, three legs, four legs. (Man, three-legged stool dog.) Riddle: four hang, four walk, two show the road, one wags behind. (Cow's teats, feet, eyes, tail.) (Other answers: cat, dog, horse, hog, etc.) Riddle: six legs, four ears, two faces, etc. (Horse and rider.) Riddle: bill white, horns on feet, knob on head (cock) Riddle: who of fourfold beard is he, of azure foot and neck so ruddy? Arrow Riddle: what is the creature that is of all countries, that is loved by all the world, and that has no equal? (The sun.) Riddle: the father not yet born, the son already at the top of the house. (Flame and smoke.) Riddle: bird without feathers flies on tree without leaves. (Snow falls on bare tree.) From wooden spring iron bucket makes stones from which water flows. (Metal stick picks stone from eye. If you rub lids with it, tears come.)

Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes

Bird language learned by having ears magically cleansed Helpful horse Animals save person's life. (Cf. B540.) Tabu: revealing secrets of god Tabu: man looking at nude goddess Transformation: man to woman Man looks at copulating snakes: transformed to woman. (Cf. D12.) Sphinx propounds riddle on pain of death Zeus smites Capaneus while he is climbing a ladder Punishment for splitting head and eating man's brains Punishment: banishment (exile) Blinding as punishment

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