Two Colossal Sphynxes Depicting Amenhotep III Discovered in Egypt

Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed the remains of two massive sphynx-like statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (ca. 1390-1353 BC). They were discovered in the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, located near Thebes (modern-day Luxor), which was called the “Temple of a Million Years.” The statues were constructed of limestone and would have originally been 26-feet (8 meters) long. The sphynxes depict Amenhotep III wearing a mongoose-shaped headdress, a royal beard, and a broad necklace. An inscription across the chest reads, “the beloved of Amun-Re," a reference to Amenhotep III. The team also found three statues of the goddess Sakhmet/Sekhmet, who is portrayed as having the head of a lion on the body of a woman. According to a straightforward, literal reading of biblical chronology, Amenhotep III was likely the pharaoh ruling when the children of Israel were establishing their presence in Canaan.

OFF-SITE LINKS:

- https://egymonuments.gov.eg/en/news/new-archaeological-discoveries-in-the-project-to-restore-the-colossi-of-memnon-and-the-temple-of-king-amenhab-iii

- https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/26/talisman-inscribed-with-ancient-hebrew-script-found-at-joshuas-altar/

- https://www.livescience.com/two-ancient-egyptian-sphinxes-discovered-at-temple

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