Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed a Sphinx-like statue dating back to the Roman era 2,000 years ago.
The stunning find was made near the Dendera Temple complex in southern Egypt’s Qena Governorate.
Experts say the limestone statue was made in the likeness of Emperor Claudius, who ruled Rome from 41 to 54 AD, expanding it into parts of Africa.
Images, seen here, show it wearing the traditional royal nemes headdress, with the uraeus (cobra) at the front.
Nemes were pieces of striped head cloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt.
The sphinx-like statue was found during the unearthing of a mud-brick basin dating to the Byzantine era.
The basin was found amid the remains of a Roman-era limestone shrine.
An image shows how the statue is much smaller than the Great Sphinx of Giza, which measures 240 by 66 by 62 feet.
The dig was carried out by an archaeological mission from Ain Shams University in Cairo headed by former Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty.
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Dr Mamdouh Eldamaty described the statue as beautifully striking, with royal features depicted accurately, showing a slight smile on his lips, which have two dimples on their ends.
“The remains of yellow and red colours also appear on his face, and a Roman-era painting written in hieroglyphics and demotic was found under the statue.”
The archaeological mission’s work is ongoing.
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Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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Wataalamu wa vitu vya kale nchini Misri wamegundua sanamu ya kiume inayofanana na Sphinx iliyokuwa imetengenezwa wakati wa utawala wa Waroma miaka 2,000 iliyopita. Ugunduzi huo wenye kuvutia ulifanywa karibu na hekalu la Dendera katika jimbo la Qena kusini mwa Misri. "Wanafunzi wa Roma wanasema kwamba sanamu hiyo ya mawe ya chokaa ilitengenezwa kwa mfano wa Mfalme Klaudio, ambaye alitawala Roma kuanzia mwaka 41 hadi 54 KK, na kupanua utawala wake hadi sehemu za Afrika.""" Picha, zinazoonekana hapa, zinaonyesha akiwa amevaa vazi la jadi la kifalme la nemes, akiwa na uraeus (kobra) mbele. Nemes zilikuwa vipande vya kitambaa cha kichwa chenye mistari kilichovaliwa na mafarao katika Misri ya kale. Sanamu hiyo inayofanana na kiumbe anayeitwa sphinx ilipatikana wakati wa kuchimbua beseni la matofali ya matope lililotengenezwa wakati wa utawala wa Byzantium. Bwawa hilo lilipatikana katikati ya mabaki ya hekalu la mawe ya chokaa la enzi ya Waroma. Picha ya sanamu hiyo inaonyesha kuwa ni ndogo sana kuliko sanamu ya Giza Sphinx, ambayo ina urefu wa mita 240 x 66 x 62 Uchimbuaji huo ulifanywa na timu ya wataalamu wa vitu vya kale kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Ain Shams mjini Cairo, ikiongozwa na Waziri wa zamani wa vitu vya kale Mamdouh El-Damaty. "Kama ilivyotangazwa na Wizara ya Utalii na Vitu vya Kale ya Misri, Mamdouh El-Damaty alielezea sanamu hiyo kama ""mzuri sana, na sifa za kifalme zimeonyeshwa kwa usahihi, na kuonyesha tabasamu kidogo kwenye midomo yake, ambayo ina dimples mbili kwenye ncha zao.""" "Mafuniko ya rangi ya manjano na nyekundu pia yanaonekana kwenye uso wake, na mchoro wa enzi ya Kirumi ulioandikwa kwa heroglifiki na demotiki ulipatikana chini ya sanamu hiyo. " Kazi ya misheni ya akiolojia inaendelea. Ili kupata zaidi kuhusu mwandishi, mhariri au shirika ambalo lilitoa hadithi hii <unk> tafadhali bonyeza hapa chini. "Wachapishaji wa ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova"" ni William McGee, na mhariri wa ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova"" ni Maria Stojkovska, na ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova"" ni ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova"" na ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova"" ni ""Wachapishaji wa Ananova.""" Ni mahali pa kuonyesha kazi yetu. Wakati habari zetu zinauzwa kwa washirika wetu wa vyombo vya habari, tutajumuisha kiungo hapa.