Jane Akshar reports on the progress of Sphinx Avenue in Luxor
The area is almost empty now. Seven hundred families were paid LE13 million to move and their houses destroyed. They had no other choice since they built on archaeological land.
Excavators have found that material from the sphinxes were reused as foundation for houses and walls during Roman times and Medieval Luxor. There was also an industrial area of pottery kilns and some sphinxes were leveled in order to provide a flat space in this area. The various 700 houses had septic tanks and sphinxes were used as walls in these so they are in poor condition.
They have just reached a school which will have to be partially moved and they are hoping any sphinxes under this might be in good condition.
Not all sphinxes will be restored as this destruction is now part of history. Original pedestals with no sphinx will be left, the others will be restored to [rovide a safer support.
Source: Luxor News
