Statues of Sekhmet and a colossal sphinx discovered at Luxor temple

A group of statues depicting the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, dating back approximately 3,000 years, has been discovered at the funerary temple of King Amenhotep III in Luxor, Egypt. The find includes three busts, a headless torso, and the remains of a colossal sphinx, all unearthed in the temple's hypostyle hall. Mahmoud Afifi, director of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, stated that in Egyptian mythology Sekhmet, daughter of the sun god Ra, was known for fiercely defending her father against enemies, and these statues were likely placed in the temple to protect the king from misfortune and disease. Hourig Sourouzian, director of the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, commented that the statues are of great artistic quality and in good condition. This discovery follows the recent unearthing of a 7,000-year-old city and cemetery from the First Dynasty in the southern province of Sohag by an Egyptian mission from the Ministry of Antiquities, which may help define the identity and development of Abydos, one of ancient Egypt's oldest urban centers.