Manticore vs Sphinx: The Hybrid Creatures of Different Mythologies
Manticore vs Sphinx is a comparison of two hybrid creatures that belong to two different mythologies. Manticore is a known creature in Persian mythology whereas Sphinx is a known creature in Greek mythology and also Egyptian mythology. Both these creatures have the heads of human bodies of different animals. Here, in this article, we bring you all the information on these unique hybrid creatures and their lives.
Manticore vs Sphinx Comparison Table
Features | Manticore | Sphinx |
Origin | Persian Mythology | Greek |
Parents | Not Known | |
Siblings | Not Known | |
Powers | Devours whole Prey | Guards Treasures |
Type of Creature | Hybrid | Hybrid |
Meaning | Man-eater | None |
Popularity | Asian and European Myths | Greek and Egyptian Myths |
Appearance | Head of a human being, the body of a lion, and a tail of scorpion | Head of a human and the body of a lion |
Major Myth | Indian Creature | Riddler |
Can be Killed | Yes | Yes |
What Are the Differences Between Manticore vs Sphinx?
The main difference between the Manticore vs Sphinx is that a Manticore has a head of a human, a body of a lion, and a tail of a scorpion whereas a Sphinx has the head of a human and a body of a lion.
What Is Manticore Best Known For?
A Manticore version of the creature is best known for eating his prey alive and as a whole. They are famous for having the body parts of various animals and different creatures. Additionally, they are famous because these creatures are found in various mythologies around the world.
Origin
The origin of a Manticore is seen to be largely Persian. Persian mythology has a lot of deformed creatures and a Manticore is one of them. The word Manticore means man-eater literally and most of its prey are also men. It is a famous creature that found its way into many literary works and mythologies over the years. It is also very unique as among many other things, it has a head of a human giving it the human ability to think and produce logical reasonings.
Interestingly, a Manticore is an animal or a creature with different parts of other animals attached in one form. It has a head of a human, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. This combination is very deadly as it has the brain of a human, the strong body of a lion, and the poisonous and swift tail of a scorpion. No other creature in any mythology has a combination so fatal.
The Manticore can also be seen as a creature of great evolution as with time it developed and acquired the best parts of various creatures for its survival. It is still unclear what really is the goal of a Manticore other than being a man-eater and a very scary creature.
Among many things, this creature is a man-eater and the Persian word for a man-eater is markhor with the literal translation of a man-eater. From Persian origins, this creature found its way into Hindu culture and mythology where it was praised for being a hybrid as it had a human head.
How They Died
Of course, a Manticore can most definitely be killed. It is key to know that the best way to kill a manticore is to first get rid of the tail of the scorpion as it is the most poisonous and swift portion of the whole body. Once it is removed, the creature will be weakened.
After that, the only thing left to chop is its head which would put him down. In ancient times, people used to call the strongest man amongst them and he would be then responsible for killing and fighting off any and all sorts of monsters. This is how heroes were born and taken to glory.
Mentions in Different Mythologies
Manticores are mostly found in Persian mythologies; however, some histologists and mythologists have also cited them in Hindu and Asian mythologies. Many other creatures from various mythologies can also be described as hybrids of a Manticore. This is very interesting to know since these creatures are a hybrid itself and has different parts of different creatures stitched into one.
What Is Sphinx Best Known For?
The Sphinx is best known for guarding treasures and also for riddling people and when they would not know the answer, the Sphinx would kill them. According to different pieces of literature, a Sphinx was a different creature, having half-human and half-animal features.
Physical Appearance
A Sphinx was a hybrid creature in Greek and Egyptian mythology so he had different parts of creatures all attached in one. A sphinx had the head of a human, mostly a female, who had the body of a lion, and sometimes the wings of an eagle. There are many hybrid creatures in Greek mythology and the sphinx is surely an interesting creature among them.
It is explained that the appearance of the sphinx added to his prowess. The human head gave it the ability to think and made conscious decisions, the body of the lion gave it endurance, power, and strength, and the wings gave it the power to fly and make whirlwinds.
Their Riddles
These creatures were known to inhabit the outskirts of Thebes, an ancient Greek city. There she sat on a cliff and would ask the travelers a riddle. Any traveler who stumbled upon her and could not get the answer to the riddle would die on the spot at the hands of the Sphinx.
The riddle was simple and was: which is the creature that has one voice, but has four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, and three feet at night? This is known as the riddle of the Sphinx.
Conclusion
Manticore and the Sphinx were two hybrid creatures of Persian and Greek mythology. These creatures had the head of a human and the body of a lion. The only difference was that the Manticore had the tale of a scorpion and the Sphinx had wings. They were both evil and did not like people.
In mythologies, many different creatures can be found but surely the names of Manticore vs Chimera vs Sphinx stand out. Sphinx is also very well known in Egyptian mythology where they are known to guard the treasures and the riches. Here we come to the end of the article about the Manticores and the Sphinx, and now you know all about the two creatures.
