In southern Egypt, researchers unearthed a “smiling” sphinx statue with “two dimples” near an ancient temple. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, her head is modeled on the face of a Roman emperor.
The limestone-carved Sphinx statue was found along with the remains of a shrine in a two-story tomb at the temple of Dendera in Qena province, about 450 kilometers south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. A shrine to the ancient Egyptian god Horus from Roman times was also discovered in the tomb.
Picture of Emperor Claudius?
According to Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, initial research would suggest that the statue was modeled after the Roman Emperor Claudius, who reigned from AD 41 to 54. The limestone statue, which depicts a human-headed lion, is of course much smaller than the world-famous Great Sphinx at the Pyramids of Giza, which is some 73 meters long and 20 meters high.
The ancient Egyptian temple complex at Dendera is located about 55 kilometers north of Luxor on the left bank of the Nile opposite the city of Kena. It is considered one of the most important and best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt and was dedicated to the goddess Hathor and the god Horus.
Source: Krone
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