About the amazing find Archaeologists of Egypt — a statue of a «smiling» sphinx near the temple of the sky goddess Hathor, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of the country reported. , that this is a stylized image of the ancient Roman emperor Claudius, who ruled from 41 to 54 years.
Next to the beautifully executed sphinx, the team of archaeologists also found a stone slab, inscriptions on which are made in both Latin and Egyptian hieroglyphs.
p>The political and economic significance of recent discoveries in Egypt
The Temple of Hathor, located about 500 kilometers south of Cairo, has a rich history. The Dendera zodiac, an ancient astronomical map that has been exhibited in the Louvre in Paris since 1922, was once found here.
The Egyptian government is trying to reclaim the zodiac, which was exported by the Frenchman Sebastian Louis Saulnier more than a century ago.
The discovery of the «smiling sphinx» is just one of numerous recent archaeological finds in Egypt.
Giza authorities have announced the discovery of a nine-meter passage inside the Great Pyramid, which may lead to the real burial chamber of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). «An entire Roman-era residential city» has been discovered in Luxor.
Added to this is a new study that sheds light on the mysterious ancient Egyptian mummification process, revealing recipes used to preserve the bodies of the dead for thousands of years.
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Despite the scientific significance of these discoveries, some experts believe that such messages have more political and economic significance. Egypt is experiencing a severe economic crisis. The country's economy is largely dependent on tourism, the most important industry for Egypt. The government hopes to reach 30 million visitors a year by 2028, up from the 13 million before the pandemic.
This year, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo is set to open, being hailed as the world's largest museum dedicated to one civilization. It will feature the largest collection of Tutankhamun's relics ever on display and is expected to attract 5 million visitors a year.