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The Sphinx throws herself over a cliff once her riddle is solved by Oedipus. Her livelihood is gone, with the riddle's solution. The Sphinx is in the habit of terrorizing all who try to pass her by on the way in or out of Thebes. She terrifies Thebans into paying her heavy taxes. She agrees to let into Thebes only those who solve her riddle.
But no one gets into Thebes, because no one knows what the Sphinx looks for as an answer. Until Oedipus, no one guesses that man is the living being that gets about on all fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon, and threes in the evening. No one realizes that the morning represents the crawling of an infant, the afternoon the steady stride of the adult, and the evening the need of an elder for a walking stick.
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What happens to the Sphinx when Oedipus solves the riddle in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Suicide is what happens to the Sphinx when Oedipus solves the riddle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx demands upon pain of death the answer to an impossible riddle. Oedipus figures out the answer and thereby deprives the Sphinx of her food supply. In despair, she throws herself over a nearby cliff.
What happens to the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Suicide is what happens to the Sphinx in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the monstrous Sphinx is terrorizing Thebes by killing and devouring all Thebans who cannot answer her riddle. No one knows the answer. The Sphinx is parked right outside the city's main entrance. This is bad for business, because no one wants to enter Thebes, and no one can leave ... until Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle. The Sphinx is so upset that her terrorist days are over that she throws herself over a nearby cliff.
Why does the Sphinx destroy Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?
The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in Oedipus king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus the king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
