A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle.
Sphinx
The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Great Pyramid in the background
A lion-headed goddess is a lion-goddess in human form, while a royal sphinx, conversely, is a man who has assumed the form of a lion. Henry Fischer
La Granja, Spain, mid-18th century
A legendary creature is a type of fantasy entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore, but may be featured in historical accounts before modernity.
Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch
In classical mythology, the Minotaur was defeated by the hero Theseus.
Medieval bestiaries included mythical animals like the monoceros (above) alongside real animals like the bear.
Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam