Sphinx vs. Manticore — What's the Difference?

A sphinx ( SFINGKS, Ancient Greek: σφίγξ [spʰíŋks], Boeotian: φίξ [pʰíːks], plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion with the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches of a lion, and the wings of a bird.

The manticore or mantichore (Early Middle Persian: merthykhuwar; Persian: مردخوار‎ mardykhor) is a Persian legendary creature similar to the Egyptian sphinx that proliferated in western European medieval art as well. It has the head of a human, the body of a lion and a tail of venomous spines similar to porcupine quills, while other depictions have it with the tail of a scorpion.

(Mythology)A figure in Egyptian myth having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk.

A legendary monster having the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion.

Often Sphinx Greek Mythology A winged creature having the head of a woman and the body of a lion, noted for killing those who could not answer its riddle.

(Greek mythology) A beast with the body of a lion (usually red), the tail of a scorpion, and the head/face of a man with a mouth filled with multiple rows of sharp teeth (like a shark), said to be able to shoot spikes from its tail or mane to paralyse prey. It may be horned, winged, or both; its voice is described as a mixture of pipes and trumpets.

Pl. sphinxes A puzzling or mysterious person.

A mythical monster having the head of man (with horns) and the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion

Pl. sphinxes also sphinx Variant of sphynx.

(mythology) A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal (commonly a lion).

A person who keeps his/her thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.

(dated) A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.

A sphinx moth.

(rare) A sphincter.

To decorate with sphinxes. move to adjective sphinxed

To adopt the posture of the Sphinx.

To be inscrutable, often through silence.

To behave in a manner characteristic of the Sphinx.

In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.

On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.

Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.

Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidæ; - called also hawk moth. See also tomato worm.

The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).

An inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret

(Greek mythology) a riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon

One of a number of large stone statues with the body of a lion and the head of a man that were built by the ancient Egyptians