Archaeologists discover ancient sphinx in Egypt

The sandstone statue of Sphinx that was discovered in Kom Ombo Temple in Aswan in upper Egypt is seen in this handout picture obtained on September 16, 2018. (Ministry of Antiquities/Reuters)

The sandstone statue of Sphinx that was discovered in Kom Ombo Temple in Aswan in upper Egypt is seen in this handout picture obtained on September 16, 2018. (Ministry of Antiquities/ Reuters)

• The Antiquities Ministry says the sphinx made of sandstone was found in the Temple of Kom Ombo
• The Sphinx is a statue of a lion’s body and a human head

CAIRO: Egypt says archaeologists have discovered a statue of a lion’s body and a human head in the southern city of Aswan.
The Antiquities Ministry said Sunday the sphinx made of sandstone was found in the Temple of Kom Ombo during work to protect the site from groundwater.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities says the statue probably dates back to the Ptolemaic time.
The Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt for some 300 years — from around 320 B.C. to about 30 B.C.
Egypt hopes such discoveries will spur tourism, partially driven by antiquities sightseeing, which was hit hard by political turmoil following the 2011 uprising.