Sphinx
- Name
- スフィンクス (Sufinkusu)
- Region
- New World
- First seen
- Ch. 1059
- Name meaning
- スフィンクス Sufinkusu = 'Sphinx,' the mythological creature — Egyptian (the Great Sphinx of Giza: a recumbent lion with a human/pharaoh head) and Greek (the winged, lion-bodied woman who posed the riddle and was slain by Oedipus). Whitebeard's home island is named for the sphinx creatures native to it — the same animal that guards Impel Down's Level 2 (Beast Hell). Continues Oda's habit of naming locales after the mythic fauna that inhabit them. DISTINCT from Sphinx (the creature itself).
New World · first appeared: Ch. 1059
Profile
Island in the New World, Whitebeard’s hometown (p.2 caption: “Near Whitebeard’s hometown, Sphinx, the New World”). Marco parts from the Straw Hats here to go home and look after it, declining to join the crew. Shown as a small-island splash (p.2). Distinct from the sphinx creatures native to the town (Races-and-Groups/Sphinx).
Etymology
スフィンクス Sufinkusu — “Sphinx,” the lion-bodied, human-headed creature of Egyptian myth (the Great Sphinx of Giza) and the riddle-posing winged lion-woman of the Greek Oedipus myth. The island is named for the sphinx creatures native to the town (the same animal that guards Impel Down’s Level 2), continuing Oda’s habit of naming locales after their mythic fauna. Distinct from Sphinx (the creature). See structured etymology frontmatter. Confidence: high.
Key chapters
- Ch. 1059 — first appearance: the Straw Hats pass near Sphinx; Marco parts to go home (pp. 2, 4).
- Ch. 1073 — Sphinx flashback (pp. 10-14): a small village unaffiliated with the World Government (“the law doesn’t protect you here”) which the Navy raided hunting “Whitebeard’s treasure.” Edward Weevil single-handedly routs the Navy squadron (incl. Captain Ratel) defending “my dada’s hometown,” then is captured by Admiral Ryokugyu. Marco protects/lives there post-war and reassures the children; Buckingham Stussy (Miss Buckin) is also present.
Cross-links
- Characters from here: Whitebeard (deceased), Marco
- Distinct from: Sphinx (the creature)
- Faction: Whitebeard Pirates