CAIRO — An Egyptian-German archaeological mission shared a new archaeological discovery Jan. 15 in the mortuary temple of King Amenhotep III — or as the ancient Egyptians called it, the “Temple of Millions of Years” — in the western mainland of Luxor. The mission unearthed blocks of two huge limestone colossi of King Amenhotep III in the shape of sphinxes, as well as the remains of columns and walls decorated with ceremonial and ritual scenes. 

Speaking to Al-Monitor, mission head Hourig Sourouzian said the discovery reveals the shape of the largest mortuary temple in the western mainland. “This temple housed a large number of statues, models and wall decorations, before it was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1200 BC,” she said.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri revealed in press statements that the two huge limestone statues of king Amenhotep III wearing the striped nemes headdress, the royal beard and a wide collar around the neck were found at the rear of the gateway of the third pylon of the temple.

He noted that pieces of the sphinxes' inscribed chests were recovered and one of them bears the name of King Amenhotep III, which means “the beloved of Amun-Re.”