SPHINX AITHIOPIKOS
Greek Name
Σφινξ Αιθιοπικος
Σφινξες Αιθιοπικοι
Transliteration
Sphinx Aithiopikos
Sphinxes Aithiopikoi
Latin Spelling
Sphinx Aethiopicus
Sphinxes Aethiopici
Translation
Ethiopian Sphinx
Ethiopian Sphinxes
THE SPHINX AITHIOPIKOS (Ethiopian Sphinx) was a half-woman, half-lion breed of animal native to Aithiopia (Ethiopia) in sub-Saharan Africa.
The creature was probably derived from ancient travellers' accounts of the African baboon. In a similar fashion the Onokentauros was likely a bastardised description of the chimpanzee.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Pliny the Elder, Natural History 8. 72 (trans. Rackham) (Roman encyclopedia C1st A.D.) :
"Aethiopia (Ethiopia) produces Lynxes in great numbers, and Sphinxes with brown hair and a pair of udders on the breast, and many other monstrosities."
SOURCES
ROMAN
- Pliny the Elder, Natural History - Latin Encyclopedia C1st A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.