Egyptian archaeologists find sphinx at Aswan temple Published duration 17 September 2018

image copyright Reuters image caption Archaeologists say the sphinx probably dates back to the Ptolemaic dynasty

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a statue of a sphinx while draining water from the pharaonic temple of Kom Ombo near the southern city of Aswan.

The antiquities ministry said the statue of the mythical beast, which measures about 28cm (11in) wide and 38cm tall, was made of sandstone.

It probably dates back to the Greco-Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 305BC until 30BC.

Two sandstone reliefs of King Ptolemy V were also recently found at the temple.

The temple of Kom Ombo, where the sphinx was found, was built during the reign of his son, Ptolemy VI. It hosted the twin gods Sobek and Haroeris.

image copyright Reuters image caption The sphinx was uncovered while groundwater was being drained from the temple

The head of Aswan's antiquities department, Abdul Moneim Saeed, said experts would carry out further studies of the statue to find out more about its purpose.

The Great Sphinx by the pyramids of Giza is the largest and most famous.

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