I have four legs in the morning, two at noon, and am strongest with three in the evening. What am I?

This classic enigma cleverly uses metaphor to describe the different stages of a human's journey through life. The "four legs in the morning" refers to infancy, when a baby crawls on all fours, using both hands and knees for locomotion. As life progresses, the "two legs at noon" represent adulthood, the period when we stand tall and walk upright on our two feet. Finally, "strongest with three in the evening" symbolizes old age, where a person might use a cane or walking stick for support, which acts as a "third leg." The notion of being "strongest" in this phase often alludes to the accumulated wisdom, experience, and resilience gained over a lifetime, rather than physical prowess.

This particular riddle is one of the most famous in history, originating from ancient Greek mythology as the Riddle of the Sphinx. According to the legend, the monstrous Sphinx guarded the city of Thebes and would devour anyone who could not correctly answer her challenging question. Many travelers perished trying to pass.

The hero Oedipus was the first to successfully solve the riddle, identifying "man" as the creature described. His correct answer led to the Sphinx's defeat, as she threw herself from her rocky perch. This enduring riddle serves as a profound reflection on the human life cycle, the inevitability of aging, and the passage of time, making it a timeless test of insight and intelligence.