Riddle Me This: Egyptian Archeologists Unearth Smiling Sphinx With Roman Emperor's Face

CC BY 2.0 / Sam valadi / Giza Pyramids & Sphinx - EgyptGiza Pyramids & Sphinx - Egypt
Giza Pyramids & Sphinx - Egypt - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.03.2023
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The finding is much smaller than the world-famous Sphinx near the Pyramids of Giza, which is roughly 20m high - but very intriguing due to its unique mix of Roman and Egyptian heritage.
A team of archeologists in Egypt has discovered a statue of a smiling sphinx with the face of Roman Emperor Claudius, who expanded Pax Romana to Northern Africa during his rule from AD 41 to 54.
Researchers from Ain Shams University lead by Mamduh al-Damati - former Egyptian minister of antiquities – described the statue as "beautifully and accurately carved." They also unearthed a Roman-era stone slab with demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
These artifacts were discovered during archaeological excavations east of the temple complex of Dendera. The nearest of the excavated temples was consecrated to the Goddess Hathor – the patron of the sky and a consort of major Egyptian deity Horus.
This March 30, 2020 file photo, shows the empty Giza Pyramids and Sphinx complex on lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak in Egypt. In July, fearing further economic fallout, the government reopened much of society and welcomed hundreds of international tourists back to resorts, even as daily reported deaths exceeded 80. Restaurants and cafes are reopening with some continued restrictions, and masks have been mandated in public - Sputnik International, 1920, 23.01.2022
Archeologists Uncover Two Giant Sphinxes Built 3,300 Years Ago
While historians believe that the sphinx has the face of Emperor Claudius, this fact must be double-checked during further research.
A sphinx - a mythic creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle - is one of the most ancient symbols of Egypt, alongside the pyramids. It is notorious for its riddles, being the epitome of wisdom.
Emperor Claudius was a Roman ruler who conquered several new regions and carried out major economic and administrative reforms in Rome.
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