Ancient Egyptian 'Avenue of Sphinxes' gets twelve Sphinxes longer

Submitted by Ann on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 11:59

The newly discovered part of the Avenue of Sphinxes, with the Mut Temple Gate shown in the far left. - Image courtesy the SCA Archaeologists have unearthed twelve ancient sphinx statues at Luxor, Egypt.

The sculptures were found at a newly discovered part of the Avenue of Sphinxes, an ancient road stretching from the temple at Karnak to the temple of the goddess Mut at Luxor.

The discovery, made as part of excavation and restoration works at the site by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), was announced by Egypt's Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni.

The statues of the mythical creatures, inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, were found in the last sector of the Avenue of Sphinxes, a part of the sacred pathway that – although its existence was known to historians from ancient texts – was never precisely located.

The sphinxes found are often shattered in multiple pieces. Here one is being put on his base again. Mansour Boraik, Supervisor of Luxor Antiquities, indicated this is the first time a new road that runs from east to west – towards the Nile – has been found.

The total length of the road to the Nile is estimated to be about 600 metres, with 20 metres excavated so far.

These 20 metres were built from sandstone, brought in from the quarries at Gebel Silsila, north of Aswan.

“The discovery is not located within the known road of the Avenue of the Sphinxes between Karnak and Luxor Temples, but instead at the end of the newly discovered road of Nectanebo I,” explained Dr Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the SCA.

Dr. Hawass added that along this way the sacred boat of Amun, king of the gods, traveled on the god’s annual trip to visit his wife, Mut, at Luxor temple.

The Avenue of Sphinxes is about 2,700 meters long and 76 meters wide. Although the path was already in use during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, it was the 30th Dynasty Pharaoh Nectenabo I (380 to 362 BC) who constructed the avenue itself. He lined it with 1350 sphinxes, all inscribed with his name.

The sacred road was the location of important religious ceremonies, most notably the Beautiful Feast of Opet.

This festival was celebrated annually in Thebes, during the New Kingdom period and later. Hidden from sight in a sacred barque, the statues of the gods of the Theban Triad - Amun, Khonsu and Mut - were escorted down the Avenue of Sphinxes, from the temple of Amun in Karnak to the temple of Luxor, in order to relive their marriage.

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About The Author

Ann Wuyts (follow me: e-mail or

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Last three pieces by this author:

Unique Iron Age Hoard goes on display at Ipswich Museum | Royal Artefacts - Including King Tut's Golden Trumpet - Returned to Egyptian Museum Cairo | SCA releases full list of treasures missing from the Cairo Museum

Ann 'Vint' Wuyts (on Google+) is looking after the Heritage Key community and avatar health & entertainment. She is slightly fascinated by everything to do with 3D technology and what's commonly defined as 'Web 2.0'. When she grows up, Ann - eventually - wants to be a mummy. Favourite game: Buzzword…

Comments

bill t.:

Gee, Dr. Hawass got his name in this article. I notice he didn't get his face plastered in it, what an oversight. The archeologists working there obviously can't comment on this but it sure looks like nothing happens in Egyptian archeology unless Dr. Hawass gets a plug out of it whether he had any more to do with the work than administrative approval or not.

Tue, 16-11-2010 19:50

Ann:

So does Mr Hosni? And if you follow Owen's blog, you'll see there is quite some interesting news from Egypt making it to Toronto, without any involvement from the SCA! ;)

Thu, 18-11-2010 10:20

DutchDi:

The Luxor temple was in fact NOT dedicated to Mut (who has a temple at the Karnak precinct), but to the ithyphallic Amun and the (renewal of the) royal ka.

Thu, 18-11-2010 11:06

BILL T:

Good point, missed that. embarassing, I try to read the storys carefully.

Mon, 22-11-2010 15:53

BILL T:

Ooops, meant this as a reply to your previous Ann.

Mon, 22-11-2010 15:58

BILL T:

Dutch, thanks for the word of the day! I looked "ithyphallic" up to ensure I understood it and was pleased to see that my reading was close.

Mon, 22-11-2010 16:01

Recovery CD:

Hi Well its common iknowlege that the discovery is not located within the known road of the Avenue of the Sphinxes between Karnak and Luxor Temples, but instead at the end of the newly discovered road of Nectanebo.

I hope that clarrify the matter a little

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How long is the excavation is being conducted and the riches they have and finding are really amazing to see how civilized and riches they possessed at that time. Excellent article ann.
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Thu, 11-08-2011 06:46

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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);">And I think there are many others waiting to be buried. Egypt is full of such treasures.
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