A SPHINX, possibly more than 4,000 years old, has been discovered buried by workmen building a road in Egypt.

The roadworks between the ancient temples of Karnak and Luxor have been halted after the large statue was discovered featuring a “lion’s body and a human head”.

3 Archaeologists photographed the find alongside a metre-long measuring stick to give an idea of the sphinx's size, although much of the statue remains buried in sand Credit: Ministry of Antiquites

The relic could date as far back as 2500 BC and the reign of Pharoah Kafre.

The Director General of Antiquities Mohamed Abel Aziz announced plans to excavate the statue, which is still buried in the ground and embedded in the soil.

He added the process could take some time due to the age of the statue and the chances of damaging it after thousands of years.

Mr Abel Aziz confirmed the new find had similarities to the “classical” Great Sphinx of Giza which stands 66ft tall in front of the Great Pyramids.

3 Images from the site show unearthed parts of the statue, which experts say has a human head and lion's body Credit: Ministry of Antiquites

3 The Great Sphinx at Giza stands 66ft tall Credit: Getty - Contributor

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What does the Sphinx represent? A sphinx is a mythical creature usually depicted in Egypt as having a human head with the body of a lion. Egyptian sphinxes are usually depicted as male but Greek ones are often female. The Egyptian ones are seen as benevolent, but possessing incredible strength, and seen as guardians and can often be seen outside the entrance to temples. Many believe the head of the sphinx at Giza to be the pharaoh Khafra. The oldest known sphinx was found near Gobekli Tepe in Turkey and is believed to date to 9500 BC. In Greek mythology, the sphinx was said to ask all passers-by the riddle: ""Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?" The sphinx then is meant to have devoured anyone who could not answer. Oedipus, according to legend, finally solved the riddle by replying: "Man—who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and then uses a walking stick in old age"

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Khaled al Anani, the national heritage chief, encouraged people to go and visit the site to see the new discovery.

Local news website Youm reported that the statue could not yet be lifted above ground “due to the nature of the environment it is in.”

The "second sphinx" was found just over six miles from the famous Valley of Kings – the burial place of the ancient Pharaohs.

It was uncovered between two the temples on the opposite bank of the River Nile.