For Egypt vacationers, the Sphinx is definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Another could now be added, because researchers have discovered another, albeit much smaller, sphinx near the temple of Dendera in southern Egypt.
The temple itself dates back to Greco-Roman times and was then dedicated to the goddess Hathor. It has been well preserved to this day because it was buried for a long time and was therefore protected from wind and weather. It was not until 1845 that it was gradually uncovered again.
Further excavations and investigations took place in the vicinity of the temple. Archaeologists also discovered the “smiling sphinx with two dimples” in a two-story tomb near the Temple of Hathor. What the character is all about has yet to be clarified. However, the researchers already have a first guess: in addition to the limestone sphinx, the archaeologists also found a Roman stele with ancient Egyptian inscriptions and hieroglyphs. Based on this information, the researchers assume that the Sphinx could have been dedicated to the Roman Emperor Claudius.
With the discovery of the Sphinx, Egypt has added a whole series of sometimes spectacular archaeological finds from recent years. Last Thursday, the discovery of a hidden, nine-meter-long corridor in the Cheops pyramid caused a stir.
However, there is also criticism of the finds: Tourism is already an important source of income for Egypt, and the number of tourists in the country is expected to more than double by 2028. Critics therefore assume that some finds are primarily intended to attract media attention.
Sources: “Süddeutsche Zeitung”
