Archaeologists in Egypt discovered a statue most likely modeled after the Roman emperor Claudius, who according to the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a statement on Monday, ruled from AD 41 to 54 by extending the Roman rule to parts of North Africa.

The statue was unearthed in a two-level tomb at the archaeological site of the temple of Dendera in Qena province, north of Luxor, which is home to a shrine to the ancient Egyptian god Horus, also dating back to the Roman era.

Most recently, Egyptian and British archeologists unearthed an ancient tomb in the city of Luxor which is believed to contain the remains of an 18th dynasty royal. According to Mostafa Waziri, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, the tomb was found on the western bank of the River Nile, where several Queens and Kings were laid to rest.  

Mamdouh Damati, a former minister of archaeology and professor of archaeology at Ain Shams University, said that during the excavation, “a limestone statue of a Roman emperor was found,” as he described the discovery as “magnificent” with facial features that “meticulously depicted royal features and a light smile on his lips, which have two dimples on the ends.” 

Excavation work is due to continue in the area east of the Dendera temple, as the archaeology team has been using radar scanning systems since they began work last month.

Egyptian authorities and archaeologists have been making cultural breakthroughs of artifacts at multiple sites, including mummies and bronze statues dating back 2,500 years. 

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