Egypt to open avenue of sphinxes to public

Cairo: A 2,400-year-old avenue in Egypt that is lined with sphinx statues will now be opened to the public after restoration work for five years, the government said.

The Avenue of the Sphinxes will be opened in October, the antiquities ministry announced. The 2.7-km long avenue connects the grand temples of Luxor and Karnak and was built during the reign of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, who ruled Egypt from 80-362 B.C. The avenue replaced an earlier one built during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (1502-1482 B.C.) and was used for religious ceremonies and processions. It marked an annual journey of the sacred boat of the god Amun on his visit to his wife Mut at Luxor temple. The avenue contains an inscription to Queen Cleopatra from her visit during a Nile trip with Mark Anthony. The restoration project cost $20 million. IANS