THE Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay Branch) announced that a sphinx, discovered during excavations for the construction of the tooth-relic building in the ancient city of Inwa, located in the Inwa Ancient Cultural Zone of the Mandalay Region, is being temporarily preserved at the museum.
The Inwa tooth-relic building, built in 1183 ME by King Bagyidaw of Sagaing, is now in ruins, and preliminary preparations are underway to restore it to its original state. Excavations are currently being carried out to remove the collapsed soil around the building.
“During the excavations on 7 September, when we reached the northeast corner of the site, the team discovered a large marble-like figure beneath a tree. On closer inspection, they realized it was a sphinx statue. The statue is now being temporarily kept at the Inwa Museum. The statue originally stood on the right side of the entrance gate to the palace in Inwa, within the palace grounds. It is difficult to find such a statue in complete form, which is why it is considered extremely rare — not only because of its survival but also because of its craftsmanship. Discovering a statue of this kind is like recovering a priceless piece of cultural heritage for us,” said an official from the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay Branch).
The statue, a marble work of art from the Amarapura period carved during the reign of King Bagyidaw of Sagaing and considered extremely rare for its craftsmanship and value, is planned to be returned to its original location once the reconstruction of the Inwa tooth-relic building is complete. — ASH/ TH
