Archaeologists In Egypt Unearth Sphinx-Like Roman-Era Statue
March 6, 2023 9:55AM PST
In this undated photo distributed Monday, March 6, 2023, by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a sphinx statue believed to be made in the likeness of a Roman emperor is uncovered from an archaeological site in Qena, Egypt. The site that also contains a shrine to the Ancient Egyptian god Horus dating back to the Roman era, according to the country’s top antiquities official Mostafa Waziri. Waziri also said in a statement that initial examinations point to the statue being modeled after the Roman Emperor Claudius, who ruled in the first century AD. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via AP)
CAIRO (AP) — Authorities say archaeologists have unearthed a Sphinx-like Roman-era statue and the remains of a shrine in an ancient temple in southern Egypt.
The Antiquities Ministry said Monday the artifacts were found in the temple of Dendera in Qena Province, 280 miles (450 kilometers) south of the capital of Cairo.
Archaeologists believe the statue’s smiling features may belong to the Roman emperor Claudius, who extended Rome’s rule into North Africa between 41 and 54 A.D.
The archaeologists also found a Roman-era stone slab with demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which they plan to study further.
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