Sphinx

A sphinx was figure from Greek mythology on Earth. It was a character with the head of a human and body of a lion. The word was used to describe objects or people who resembled the figure by way of their appearance, demeanor or posture. The Great Sphinx was an enormous sculpture of a sphinx in Giza, Egypt on Earth.

History
“The Second Coming” was a poem by John Keats about a sphinx: “Somewhere ... a shape with lion body and the head of a man is moving its slow thighs. ... And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born.” James T. Kirk quoted this portion of the poem in 2267. 

In 2273, Commander Nick Keller referred to Zoa as “sphinx.” She blinked very little, had gold-colored skin, body tattoos and spaghetti braids. Like the sphinx statue, her face seemed never to move. 

In 2274, a sphinx statue was discovered on Zetea Reticuli II along with two pyramids in an environment similar to that of Giza in 2,000 B.C. This statue was an automated robot plated with neutronium, which attacked a landing party from the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), killing Ralston with phased light beams from its eyes. Hikaru Sulu, Nyota Uhura and Marcella DiFalco were able to sever its head by firing phasers at a joint in its neck. 

In 2287, Hiran considered Centurion Tiam's aide Subcenturion Kital to be sphinx-like in that his eyes were “unreadable” he had a stoic demeanor. Ambassador Kevin Riley believed the man did nothing except stand quietly. 

In 2298, the Tholian Mosrene sat in the posture of the Great Sphinx statue when Hikaru Sulu questioned it about having killed Ambassador Kasrene.