The statue is reminiscent of the famous Sphinx in the Giza pyramid complex, and archaeologists believe the newly discovered smiling feature may have belonged to Roman Emperor Claudius.
Tuesday 07 March 2023 at 00:47 in United Kingdom
Archaeologists have unearthed a sphinx statue and the remains of a shrine at an ancient temple in southern Egypt.
The antiquities ministry said the artifacts were found at the Temple of Dendera in Qina province, 280 miles south of the capital Cairo.
The ministry added that archaeologists believe the statue’s smiling feature may have belonged to the Roman emperor Claudius, who extended Roman rule to North Africa between AD 41 and 54.
The smaller statue is reminiscent of the famous Sphinx of the Giza pyramid complex, which stands 66 feet tall.
Archaeologists will do more research on the markings on the slabs, which may reveal more about the identity and region of the smaller statues.
Archaeologists also found an inscription dating back to ancient Roman times with Demographic and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
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The limestone temple includes a two-story platform and a Byzantine-era mudbrick basin, the ministry said.
The discoveries are often touted by the Egyptian government, hoping to attract more tourists, an important source of foreign exchange for the North African country.