Sphinx
A sphinx is maybe Greek or Egyptian, and has the body of a lion with maybe the face of a woman or a man or a cat, and maybe wings or maybe not. And Persians believed in them, too. Maybe it has riddles and is mean, or maybe it's a benevolent guardian and very similar to lammasus (and Cherubim!). Or maybe not. Ancient mythology is awesome like that.
In D&D, a Sphinx is a lot closer to the Greek version, especially with their love of riddles. They are also ambiguously good or bad.
Sphinx
A sphinx is maybe Greek or Egyptian, and has the body of a lion with maybe the face of a woman or a man or a cat, and maybe wings or maybe not. And Persians believed in them, too. Maybe it has riddles and is mean, or maybe it's a benevolent guardian and very similar to lammasus (and Cherubim!). Or maybe not. Ancient mythology is awesome like that.
In D&D, a Sphinx is a lot closer to the Greek version, especially with their love of riddles. They are also ambiguously good or bad.