Ancient Egyptian Sphinx discovered in Israel

On July 9, archaeologists found part of an ancient Egyptian sphinx at a site in Tel Hazor, northern Israel.

According to archaeology professor Amnon Ben-Tor, this is the first time researchers have found a sphinx depicting the ancient Egyptian Emperor Mycerinus, who reigned around 2500 BC and built one of the three Giza pyramids.

It is also the only known statue of this king, and the only Egyptian statue ever found in the Levant - now the area of ​​Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

An ancient Egyptian sphinx statue. Illustration photo. (Source: NatGeo)

Mr. Ben-Tor said the found statue is approximately 50cm long, while the original statue is estimated to be 150cm long and 50cm high.

Besides the name of Emperor Mycerinus in Egyptian characters carved between the sphinx's front legs, there is also an inscription on the statue that translates as "beloved by the holy spirits of Heliopolis."

Heliopolis - an ancient city located north of present-day Cairo - is where the sphinx was originally located, but the reason the statue ended up in Tel Hazor remains a mystery.

There is a theory that the statue was moved to Tel Hazor during the time of Mycerinus, however Professor Ben-Tor rejects this theory because at that time there was absolutely no relationship between Egypt and this land.

Another theory is that the statue was stolen by the Canaanites who ruled Lower Egypt around the late 17th and early 16th centuries BC. According to Professor Ben-Tor, the most likely theory is that the statue was given to Tel Hazor by a later Egyptian emperor to strengthen diplomatic relations./.

According to (TTXVN) - VT