In ancient Greek mythology, the Sphinx would ask a riddle of travelers: "What goes 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs at noon, and 3 legs in the evening?" The myth goes on to say that if a person could not answer the riddle, the Sphinx killed him. If a person answered correctly, the Sphinx must destroy herself. In the painting, the Sphinx is holding the answer to the Riddle in her hands. She also has a bell, a key, an owl, a moth, and there is a big apple in the background.