Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Archaeologists in Egypt Unearth Twelve More Sphinx Statues Along the Ancient Avenue

November 17, 2010 by All Art News  
Filed under Antiques & Archaeology

CAIRO (AP).- Egypt’s antiquities department says archaeologists have unearthed 12 more sphinx statues along the ancient avenue connecting Luxor and Karnak temples. 

The discovery was made in a newly excavated section of the Avenue of the Sphinxes, most of which is buried beneath the modern city of Luxor in southern Egypt. 

An unearthed sphinx statue of Pharaoh Nectanebo I on the Avenue of the Sphinxes 580x388 Archaeologists in Egypt Unearth Twelve More Sphinx Statues Along the Ancient Avenue
An unearthed sphinx statue of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, on the Avenue of the Sphinxes on a sandstone section of a road that dates back from 380-362 B.C., at the city of Luxor, southern Egypt. Egypt’s antiquities department says archaeologists have unearthed 12 more sphinx statues along the ancient avenue connecting Luxor and Karnak temples. AP Photo/ Supreme Council of Antiquities

The sandstone section of road dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, from 380-362 B.C., and was used in religious processions. 

Egypt is working to excavate the entire sphinx-lined avenue. It was heavily damaged during the Roman period by the construction of roads and houses over it and by the reuse of some of the sphinxes in other building projects. 

The antiquities department said Monday that a Roman-era oil press and pottery were also found at the site.

Related posts:

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  2. Archaeological Team’s Radar Reveals Extent of Buried Ancient Egypt City
  3. Archaeologists in Egypt Find Ptolemaic-Era King Statue
  4. 57 Ancient Tombs with Mummies Unearthed by Archeologists in Egypt
  5. Egypt to Soon Announce King Tutankhamun DNA Test Results

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