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A '''sphinx''' was a mythological creature.
'''Sphinxes''' were a species or class of beings with [[lion|leonine]] characteristics. Although, prior to the [[Anchoring of the thread|rationalisation of the universe]], they had been living creatures of [[magic]], most sphinxes in the [[Time Lord]]s' world were merely stone statues. Living sphinxes had a propensity to pose [[riddle]]s.
== History ==
In the mists of [[Gallifrey]]an history, the [[Pythia]] went to the island of [[Thule]] to steal the eye of its [[sphinx of Thule|resident sphinx]] so that she could put it in place of her own eye that she had gouged out. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'')


== Living ==
However, as beings of magic, sphinxes disappeared from such planets as [[Earth]] when they began relying on [[technology]] instead, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[A Spoonful of Mayhem (audio story)|A Spoonful of Mayhem]]'') irrationality and sorcery having been beaten out of the universe by [[Rassilon]] and other early [[Time Lord]] reformers ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'') through the [[Anchoring of the thread|Anchoring of the Thread]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of the War (novel)|The Book of the War]]'')
At least two living sphinxes were known.


[[Jason (Island of the Sirens)|Jason]] and the [[Argo]]nauts encountered a sphinx from [[Satroz]] when an alien prison ship crashed on Earth. She was shot dead by the [[Parthenope]] prisoners. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Island of the Sirens (short story)|Island of the Sirens]]'') In the mists of [[Gallifrey]]an history, the [[Pythia]] went to the island of [[Thule]] to steal the eye of its [[sphinx of Thule|resident sphinx]] so that she could put it in place of her own eye that she had gouged out. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'')
As evidenced by the fame of the [[Martian Sphinx]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Mission: Impractical (novel)| Impractical]]'') and of the [[Atlantis|Atlantean]]- ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eye of the Scorpion (audio story)|The Eye of the Scorpion]]'') or [[Osiran]]-built [[Great Sphinx]] of [[Giza]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]'') sphinxes were, in the universe of rationality, relegated to nonsentient stone likenesses () and [[legend]]s, found in different variations in [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Egypt]]ian records. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[EarthWorld (novel)|EarthWorld]]'')


== Statuary ==
However, as was known to {{Gomez}}, at least [[Sphinx (A Spoonful of Mayhem)|one seemingly-inert sphinx statue]] in [[London]] still had a spark of life to it; through a complex blood ritual, she successfully awoke it for a time and interacted with it in the late [[19th century]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[A Spoonful of Mayhem (audio story)|A Spoonful of Mayhem]]'')
Sphinxes, though, were perhaps better known not as living entities, but as the subjects of artistic renderings — typically very large [[statue]]s. The two most famous sphinx statues were undoubtedly the [[Great Sphinx]] in [[Giza]], [[Egypt]] and the [[Martian Sphinx]].


However, there was also one at the [[New Jupiter]] [[EarthWorld]] theme park — even though it confused Egyptian and Greek legends. The riddle of the sphinx, "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs by nightfall?" came from Greek legends. The answer was "[[human|man]]". The Egyptian Zone's sphinx asked this question to anyone trying to enter the [[pyramid]]. [[Anji Kapoor]] gave the answer before it was asked because she was trying to outrun robotic [[dinosaur]]s. The huge sphinx also had wings like an [[eagle]] and a missing nose like the Great Sphinx. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[EarthWorld (novel)|EarthWorld]]'')
A "huge" simulacrum sphinx with wings like an [[eagle]]'s was housed in the [[New Jupiter]] [[EarthWorld]] theme park's Egyptian Zone, although it was criticised for mixing and matching features of the Greek and Egyptian lore on which it based itself: the riddle of the sphinx, "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs by nightfall?", to which the answer was "[[human|man]]", was one of the elements it took from the Greek accounts; on the flipside, it had a missing [[nose]] like the Great Sphinx of Giza statue. As a tourist attraction, the artificial sphinx would ask the riddle of park guests; during her particularly hectic adventures in the park, [[Anji Kapoor]] gave the answer before it was asked because she was trying to outrun robotic [[dinosaur]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[EarthWorld (novel)|EarthWorld]]'')


[[Category:Mythological creatures]]
As witnessed by the [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Donna Noble]], [[Jason (Island of the Sirens)|Jason]] and the [[Argo]]nauts also encountered a sphinx-like being from the planet [[Satroz]] when an alien prison ship crashed on Earth. She was shot dead by the [[Parthenope]] prisoners. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Island of the Sirens (short story)|Island of the Sirens]]'')
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Magic]]

Revision as of 22:58, 25 July 2020

Sphinx
You may be looking for the screen-headed servants of the Kings of Space.

Sphinxes were a species or class of beings with leonine characteristics. Although, prior to the rationalisation of the universe, they had been living creatures of magic, most sphinxes in the Time Lords' world were merely stone statues. Living sphinxes had a propensity to pose riddles.

History

In the mists of Gallifreyan history, the Pythia went to the island of Thule to steal the eye of its resident sphinx so that she could put it in place of her own eye that she had gouged out. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible)

However, as beings of magic, sphinxes disappeared from such planets as Earth when they began relying on technology instead, (AUDIO: A Spoonful of Mayhem) irrationality and sorcery having been beaten out of the universe by Rassilon and other early Time Lord reformers (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) through the Anchoring of the Thread. (PROSE: The Book of the War)

As evidenced by the fame of the Martian Sphinx (PROSE: Impractical) and of the Atlantean- (PROSE: The Eye of the Scorpion) or Osiran-built Great Sphinx of Giza, (PROSE: The Sands of Time) sphinxes were, in the universe of rationality, relegated to nonsentient stone likenesses () and legends, found in different variations in Greek and Egyptian records. (PROSE: EarthWorld)

However, as was known to Missy, at least one seemingly-inert sphinx statue in London still had a spark of life to it; through a complex blood ritual, she successfully awoke it for a time and interacted with it in the late 19th century. (AUDIO: A Spoonful of Mayhem)

A "huge" simulacrum sphinx with wings like an eagle's was housed in the New Jupiter EarthWorld theme park's Egyptian Zone, although it was criticised for mixing and matching features of the Greek and Egyptian lore on which it based itself: the riddle of the sphinx, "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs by nightfall?", to which the answer was "man", was one of the elements it took from the Greek accounts; on the flipside, it had a missing nose like the Great Sphinx of Giza statue. As a tourist attraction, the artificial sphinx would ask the riddle of park guests; during her particularly hectic adventures in the park, Anji Kapoor gave the answer before it was asked because she was trying to outrun robotic dinosaurs. (PROSE: EarthWorld)

As witnessed by the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, Jason and the Argonauts also encountered a sphinx-like being from the planet Satroz when an alien prison ship crashed on Earth. She was shot dead by the Parthenope prisoners. (PROSE: Island of the Sirens)

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