A joint mission of archaeologists has uncovered a beautifully preserved miniature sphinx statue during excavations near the Temple of Dendera in Qena. The statue, carved from limestone, features a smiling countenance with two dimples and wears the nemes royal headdress. Initial stylistic analysis suggests it may represent the Roman Emperor Claudius, highlighting the Roman influence on Egyptian religious iconography.
Alongside the sphinx, the team found a Roman-era stela inscribed with demotic and hieroglyphic scripts. The discovery is significant as it provides further evidence of the 'Romanization' of Egyptian cults and the continued importance of Dendera as a religious center during the early centuries of the Common Era.
