Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed part of a more than 3,000-year-old statue of the pharaoh believed to be the grandfather of the famed King Tut (Tutankhamun).
Egyptian antiquities chief Zahi Hawass says the statue of Amenhotep III was discovered at the site of his temple in the southern city of Luxor. Hawass said Saturday the relic shows Amenhotep seated on a throne, accompanied by the deity Amun.
Archeologists believe the full statue is about three meters tall.
Pharaoh Amenhotep III ruled the Egyptian empire at the peak of its civilization from about 1390 to 1350 BC. The empire stretched from present-day northern Sudan to Syria.
His grandson, King Tut, drew worldwide attention after archaeologists discovered his tomb filled with stunning artifacts in 1922. The teenage Tut died in 1324 BC.
In February, archaeologists announced the discovery of a massive granite head depicting Amenhotep III.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
