A collection of 27 fragmented statues of the lioness goddess Sekhmet has been uncovered during excavation work at the King Amenhotep III funerary temple at the Kom El-Hettan area on Luxor’s west bank.
Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the black-granite statues have a maximum height of about two metres. Some statues depict Sekhmet sitting on a throne, holding the symbol of life in her left hand, while others show her standing and holding a papyrus sceptre before her chest. The head of Sekhmet is crowned with a sun-disk, while a uraeus adorns her forehead.
Sourouzian told Ahram Online that the discovery includes many almost complete statues with only the feet and base missing.
Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
“The sculptures are of a high artistic quality and of the greatest archaeological interest,” Sourouzian said.
She said the importance and quality of the statues explains why they survived a period of extensive quarrying of the temple remains in the Ramesside Period, after a heavy earthquake had toppled the walls and the columns of the temple in 1200 B.C.
Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, pointed to the collaboration between the European mission and the ministry to ensure ongoing excavation work and the completion of the Amenhotep III Temple protect.
The mission began excavation work in 1998, and about 287 statues of Sekhmet have been unearthed since then.
Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
Sekhment, whose name means "Powerful One", is one of three figures in the Triad of Memphis sculpture, which also features Ptah and Ramses III.
Author: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [December 03, 2017]