On Thursday, the Egyptian-German archaeological mission headed by Professor Hourig Sourouzian succeeded, in unearthing a new archaeological discovery during its current season in Luxor.
While restoring the statues of Memnon and the funerary temple of King Amenhotep III, known as the “Temple of Millions of Years ” on the western mainland in Luxor, they also discovered a group of huge stones of two royal statues in the form of the Sphinx and statues for the goddess Sekhmet.
The mission revealed the remains of walls and columns decorated with ceremonial and ritual scenes, according to Mustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Waziri explained that among the discovered pieces were parts of two colossal limestone statues of King Amenhotep III in the form of a Sphinx, wearing a mongoose headdress, a royal beard and a wide necklace around the neck.
The items were found in the back area of the gate of the third edifice, he said, adding that all the pieces of these two statues had undergone careful cleaning, strengthening and restoration.
This demonstrates the presence of an inscription in the chest area bearing the royal name of Amenhotep III, which is “The Beloved of the Deity Amon Ra.”
He added that the mission also found three black granite busts of the goddess Sekhmet, at the front of the open courtyard, and the great pillared hall of the temple.
These pieces will be grouped with other pieces found earlier at the site in preparation for displaying them in their original places in the temple.
A number of inscriptions on sandstone wall with scenes representing Valentine’s Day celebrations – a dam and a small black granite statue for one of the employees, perhaps sitting next to his wife, were also discovered.
Translated by Hassanain Tayea
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