Statue of Mut, goddess of motherhood, unearthed at Karnak

A team of archaeologists of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) has found at Mut temple, south of the Karnak complex in Luxor, a black granite statue of Mut, the goddess of motherhood in addition to a stele of sand stone bearing a hieroglyphic text which dates back to the age of Ramsis 111 founder of the 20th dynasty.

According to Dr Gaballah Ali Gaballah Secretary General of the SCA the find was made during restoration of AL Karnak and the upgrading of the surrounding area.

The upper part of the statue, which takes the shape of a woman and the face of a lioness, was revealed.

When excavations were further maintained the team unearthed a stele, 210 cm high, 105 cm wide and 55 cm thick. The stele bore relief inscription of the sacred trio of Thebes's god of Amon, his wife Mu and son khensu.

Dr. Gaballah said that the stele was inscribed on all faces. One of the important scenes it bears is that of Ramsis III offering sacrifice to the sacred trio in the presence of a number of goddesses including Isis, Hathur and Ra Hur Akhti led by goddess Wass'assas that is rarely mentioned in old texts.

The goddess, who took the shape of a Cobra, was associated with the name of Ramsis III.

Director of Luxor antiquities Gabr Abdul Aziz said that, there was a 13line- text written in sunken relief horizontally on the back of the stele.

The words refer to the name and titles of the owner of the stele as well as the sacrifices offered in honour of Ramsis III.

Meanwhile, the two found items are to be displayed at Luxor temple. Dr Gaballah said that the restoration plan of the avenue of rams is to be maintained in the area linking the tenth pylon at Karnak temple to the entrance of the temple of goddess Mut, which is part of the extension to the huge Karnak temple.