Week 7 Story, The Sphinx

The Regal and Proud Sphinx.

(Source)

Once, long long ago, when the world was filled with more mystery and magic, a group of hunters wandered the woods. They were pursuing a deer they had wounded when they came upon a pond in the woods. They thirsted, as they had been pursing the deer for many hours. One knelt to take a drink when a voice resounded through the clearing the pond resided in.

"Answer me my queries before you take of my water."

The hunter was strong and proud, and was not one to be told what to do or how to act. He cupped the water to his lips, and instantly fell down, dead.

The other hunters drew back. Some fled, thinking the site was haunted or cursed. Some simply suspected the water was poisoned and ignored their thirst. But the youngest, who perhaps had more curiosity than sense, stepped forward and said "I will answer your questions."

Out of the woods stalked a sphinx. It sat proudly at the edge of the water, the tip of its tail flicking impatiently at its feet.

"What sleeps with its eyes open? What, upon its birth, does not struggle nor cry out? What swells of only itself?"

What the hunter lacked in sense he made up in cleverness. He paused for a moment before answering, "A fish sleeps with its eyes open. An egg, upon its birth, is still and quiet. A river, during the floods, swells of only its own water."

The sphinx continued, "What is the unconquered enemy of man? What pestilence does man feed and groom?"

"Anger and wrath is the enemy of man. Greed and desire eat away at men, yet many feed and attend to them," He said, starting to enjoy the game.

"A final question before I allow you to drink," the sphinx announced. "Who... am I?" it said, punctuating its question with a pregnant pause.

The hunter reasoned through his answer aloud. "You are just. You warned us before we drank of the water. You prize the clever, and reward their wisdom. You are none other than the goddess of justice and wisdom, Athena."

As he spoke her true name, she changed from a sphinx to reveal her beautiful, but imposing visage.

The Regal and Proud Goddess of Wisdom and Justice, Athena.

(Source)

"I will reward your courage in the face of your companions' cowardice. You have earned the privilege of quenching your thirst from my pond. But also, I will grant you one wish. Whatever you may ask, it is yours."

The hunter answered without a second thought. "Spare my friend his life."

The sphinx regarded him for a moment, in appreciation of his selflessness. "It is done," she said as the previously dead hunter gasped and flailed.

The clever young hunter drew the water to his lips as the others looked on in awe. He had never tasted water so clear or sweet.

Author's Note: I based this story on part of the Mahabharata. In the original, it was the Hindu god of wisdom and justice, Dharma who questioned the hunters. I noticed how sphinx-like the riddles were, and wanted to retell the story with a greek twist.