The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced this month (3/23) that archaeologists have recently discovered a small Sphinx statue dating to the Roman period with unusual features. Its facial expression has a slight smile, and some experts believe that its head might be a representation of the Roman Emperor Claudius, who ruled from 41-54 CE.
Unearthed near the Ancient temple of Dendera in a water-storage basin, the limestone sculpture has the body of a lion and the bust of a pharaoh, wearing a striped cloth headdress (called a _nemes_) which is crowned by a cobra (_uraeus_) — typical hallmarks of the Ancient Egyptian rulers’ attire.
The Emperors of Rome were normally wary about claiming divinity, due to a large sample size of emperors who did promote themselves as divine being assassinated or killed in battle. But rulers were keen to capitalize on the traditions of peoples they conquered, especially when these customs amplified their authority. And so, the Roman Emperors ruled over Egypt as pharaohs. Claudius never actually visited his lands in Egypt, but he happily bought into the whole “the leader of Egypt is actually a God” line.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, “Smiling sphynx statue unearthed in Egypt.” Sarah Kutah, March 8, 2023., Images Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
