BY: Michelle Liew

A pair of giant sphinx limestones have been discovered by archaeologists who excavated the temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III recently.

Pharaoh Amenhotep III ruled ancient Egypt about 3,300 years ago and was the grandfather of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

The statues have carvings of the pharaoh which have a headdress in the shape of a mink, a beard and a necklace.

An Egyptian-German archaeological team led by Dr Horig Sorosian found giant statues submerged in water in a cemetery known as the ‘Millions of Years Old Temple,’ according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The temple is located in Luxor, Egypt which is famous for the discovery of the oldest and most ancient Egyptian treasures.

Pharaoh Amenhotep III was the grandfather of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and ruled in the 14th century BC in Egypt and led a large kingdom that stretched from Nubia in the south to Syria in the north.

The ruler of the 18th Dynasty became king when he was about 12 years old.

Pharaoh Amenhotep III died in 1,354 BC and was succeeded by his son, Pharaoh Amenhotep IV known as Pharaoh Akhenaten.