CAIRO: The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities late Monday announced it had unearthed an ancient road lined with sphinxes in the Upper Egyptian town of Luxor. It comes as more excavations into the city continue to reveal more hidden treasures, the SCA said in a press release. Although the ancient road had been known to Egyptologists for some time – it is mentioned and written about in ancient texts – the SCA said it is the first time archaeologists have been able to reveal the actual route. The road reportedly led from the temples of Luxor north to the temple of an ancient goddess called Mut in Karnak. The SCA said 12 sphinxes were discovered along the road and had inscriptions with names from the last Pharaohnic dynasty of around 350 BCE on them. Most of the sphinxes were missing their heads. Ancient Egyptians used the road once a year for religious processions. Egypt is now working to excavate the road's entire length. According to the SCA, the road was damaged during Roman rule of Egypt as a result of further road construction and building in the area. BM
