Egypt unearths red granite colossus of ancient deity

Egypt announced on Sunday it has unearthed a red granite colossus of the ancient Egyptian deity of wisdom Thoth in the southern city of Luxor.

Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass said in a statement the 3.5 meters long and 140 cm width statue was discovered during routine excavations in the northwestern side of King Amenhotep III's funerary temple on the west bank of Luxor.

Thoth was considered one of the most important deities of the Egyptian pantheon. In art, he was often depicted as a man with the head of a baboon.

Hawass, who led the Egyptian archaeological team which unearthed the colossus, said that evidence at the site suggests that more colossi could be found there.

A similar five meters long statue was discovered there last year, he said.

However, he said it is yet to define the age of the statue, pointing out that the mission is still carrying out excavations in the site with hopes to collect more evidence and information about the historic period of the statue.

Meanwhile, Afifi Rohayem, assistant to the mission's director, said the site could contain an avenue of Thoth statues that once outlined the original path leading to the temple.

Source:Xinhua