The sphinxes are often seen at the entrances to temples and flanking doorways. They are often associated with riddles. The Sphinx is guarding the doorway to the secrets. To enter you must solve the riddle.
The Sphinx is described as having at least the body of a lion and the head of a human.
However, the real sphinx, is said to have the body parts of a Lion and a Bull (claws of a lion, body of a bull; sometimes variants) the wings of an Eagle and head of a Human.