The new sphinx was found during the draining water works in Egyptian pharao’s temple of Kom Ombo, BBC reported.
Egypt’s antiquities ministry confirmed on Sunday that sphinx statue of the mythical beast was discovered during the drainage works on the place of pharao’s temple near the southern city of Aswan. The size of the sphinx is about 28cm wide and 38cm tall, it was made of sandstone. Traditionally, such a statue was representing royal power in ancient Egypt, combining the physical strength of a lion with the worldly might of a king.
Actually, Egypt is a country of sphinxes, the Great Sphinx by the pyramids of Giza is the largest and most famous. The newly discovered sphinx probably dates back more than 2,000 years to between 305BC and 30BC, say the archaeologists. The temple of Kom Ombo, where the sphinx was found, was built during the reign of his son, Ptolemy VI. It hosted the twin gods Sobek and Haroeris.
Sphinx statues, which have a lion’s body and a human head, typically depict a king and are often found guarding the entrances to all ancient Egyptian temples. The head of Aswan’s antiquities department said experts are happy with the recent finding of the Greek-Macedonian dynasty. The experts would now carry out further research to find out more about its possible purpose.
