Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered what appears to be a smiling ancient Sphinx. With deep sandy eyes and a wide smirk, the statue is probably modeled on the Roman emperor Claudius, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement.
Ancient Egyptian sphinxes often represented a king or royal with the body of a lion, as a symbol of might and power.
The statue was uncovered in a two-level tomb at the archaeological site of the temple of Dendera in Qena province, north of Luxor. The area also includes a shrine to the ancient Egyptian god Horus, also dating back to the Roman era, according to Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
During the excavation of the tomb, “a limestone statue of a Roman emperor was found,” Mamdouh Damati, a former minister of archaeology and professor of archaeology at Ain Shams University, said in the statement.He described the statue as “magnificent” with facial features that “meticulously depicted royal features and a light smile on his lips, which have two dimples on the ends.” Traces of yellow and red color also remain on the face, Damati said.
A slab from the Roman era was also found with hieroglyphic and demotic inscriptions, which may give more clues once restored.pyramid complex, which measures 73 meters long and 20 meters high. That colossal statue is a hallmark of ancient Egyptian civilization and carved directly out of the bedrock. It dates back to around 2500 B.C.,The mission said it will continue excavation work in the area of the Horus temple, east of the Dendera temple. The team began work last month and has been utilizing radar scanning systems across the ancient temple site.
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Archaeologists in Egypt unearth Sphinx-like Roman-era statueAuthorities say archaeologists have unearthed a Sphinx-like Roman-era statue and the remains of a shrine in an ancient temple in southern Egypt
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Archaeologists in Egypt unearth Sphinx-like Roman-era statueThe artifacts were found in the temple of Dendera in Qena Province, 280 miles (450 kilometers) south of the capital of Cairo.
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Read more »