A special mini sphinx has been discovered in the south of Egypt. Archaeologists suspect that the face of the Roman emperor Claudius is visible on the sphinx.
The sphinx has a smiling face and two dimples in the cheeks. To ensure that Claudius had a hand in the sphinx’s design, markings on the statue are being investigated further.
Under Claudius, the Roman Empire expanded into North Africa between 41 AD and 54 AD. The find was made in the Egyptian province of Qena, in eastern Egypt.
Archaeologists suspect that Claudius was involved in the design because a Roman stone slab was found near the sphinx. Hieroglyphics were applied to it, among other things.
The Egyptian government emphasizes that the sphinx is much smaller than the large one at the pyramids of Giza. That gigantic statue is at least 20 meters high. The exact moment when the mini-sphinx was discovered has not been disclosed.
