It comes after Reda Abdel Halim, the director of public relations for the Giza pyramids district at the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, told local media that he discovered a new statue similar to the Great Sphinx. According to him, the monument is 73 metres high, with a head measuring 20.5 metres, and hands extended over 15.5 metres. He added that scientific research was published at Zagazig University confirming the existence of this statue.

       But leading archaeologists have hit back.

       Zahi Hawass, the former Minister of Antiquities, said: "This is completely untrue."

       He added: “The Sphinx is unique in Egypt and the world. … Any talk about discoveries of other similar statues is baseless and has only one purpose, which is creating media fanfare.

       "Studies and research must be published in a scientific journal so that we can respond with scientific evidence.

       "Talks about a text that is said to have been inscribed on the Sphinx but got erased by the passage of the time mentioning the existence of another similar statue, are baseless.

       “During the many years I headed the Giza pyramids area, we worked along with Egyptian and foreign experts and archaeologists, scanning the entire area, and I can assure you there is not another statue of the Sphinx."

       The Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man with the body of a lion.

       The most famous is the Great Sphinx of Giza that stands within the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile.

       It is said to have been built to protect Pharaoh Khafre.

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       The stunning statue is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and is believed to have been designed, sculpted, and constructed by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom, roughly 4,500 years ago.

       Nevin al-Arif, media advisor to the minister of tourism and antiquities, told Al-Monitor that archaeologists and experts, including the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa al-Waziri, are baffled by the claim.

       She said: "The statue in question was discovered a long time ago in the area and has nothing to do with the original Sphinx.

       "It is nothing but a normal statue."

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       During a phone-in interview with Cairo and People, Mr al-Waziri said "there is no new Sphinx, the discovery is a rock in the area of Pyramids Plateau".

       He added that archaeological discoveries have a certain system for their announcement, while the rock in question is not a new discovery.

       There are a large number of archaeological rocks in Egypt, including entire areas such as the Pyramids Plateau and the Mokattam Rock. Badr al-Din al-Gamali Mosque was built on a huge rock.

       It remains unclear the discovery in question is a rock or a statue, because excavations are being completed around it and its features have not yet been revealed.