Undated photo provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities shows a small royal statue of a Sphinx in Minya province, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered on Saturday a small royal statue of a Sphinx during excavation in Minya province, south of the capital Cairo, the country's Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement. (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Xinhua)
CAIRO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered on Saturday a small royal statue of a Sphinx during excavation in Minya province, south of the capital Cairo, the country's Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement.
"The statue is made of limestone with 35 cm in height and 55 cm in length," said Gamal el-Samastawy, director general of the Antiquities of Middle Egypt, a department of the ministry.
"The clear and beautiful features and details of the statue mirrored the skillfulness of the ancient Egyptian sculptor," he added.
The mission also found sets of amulets made of blue faience pottery for the goddess Bes, in addition to ostracon from pottery, clay pots of various shapes and sizes, and an alabaster bottle, el-Samastawy said.
The survey and archaeological excavation will continue to find out the reason for the presence of this statue in this mysterious area, he added.
During the past three years, several archaeological discoveries have been made in the same area, such as a large group of cemeteries and burial sites that included many stone and wooden coffins in which mummies were found in good condition, el-Samastawy said.
