FOUR OF KARNAK'S RAM-HEADED SPHINXES BEING MOVED TO A BUSY CAIRO SQUARE

EGYPTOLOGISTS were stunned today when an Egyptian official announced the removal four ram-headed sphinxes from Karnak Temple for transfer to a busy public square in Cairo.

Head of Karnak Antiquities Mostafa el Sagheer announced that four sphinxes from Luxor's Karnak Temple will be placed in Tahrir Square in Cairo alongside an obelisk which was recently moved to Tahrir Square to decorate it.

This obelisk was transferred to Tahrir square from San El-Haggar archaeological site in Zagazig two months ago.

The transferred sphinxes were taken from behind the temple's first pylon, not from the famous avenue of sphinxes known as Kebbash Road that once connected Karnak and Luxor temples, they are from the first courtyard behind Karnak’s first pylon.

That courtyard contains 30 pairs of sphinxes that once decorated the temple’s second pylon.

During the 22nd, 25th and 30th dynasties, the sphinxes were removed to the temple's first courtyard, in order to free the second pylon for the construction and installation of the Taharqa column and a group of shrines.

More than 90 percent of Kebbash road has been restored and developed, and will inaugurated soon.

The Pharaonic Kebbash Road is to become the longest gangway and open museum in the world.

The renovation of the Pharaonic Kebbash Road is considered a monumental moment for Luxor, as the project will bring the great road to life again.

Its new design is set to change Luxor's position on the touristic map, as it will become the longest gangway and open museum in the world.

It is expected that the new makeover of Kebbash Road will attract tourists the world over and play a vital role in pushing the Egyptian tourism forward.

Kebbash Road will be reopened after its renovation.

In Ancient Egypt, Kebbash Road connected the Karnak Temple Complex with the Luxor Temple.

During the time of the Pharaohs, the road was one of the most important, as it hosted ceremonies and festivals.

The road was opened to the public in March 2013 by the Minister of Tourism.

Although Kebbash Road is 2.7 kilometers long, a walk through it is enjoyable as there are around 1,200 statues lining one side of the road, each resembling the Sphinx (where the head is that of a ram and the body is that of a lion) and sculpted from sandstone.