12/08/2002 21:18 - (SA)

Cairo - US archeologists have discovered the upper part of a statue of ancient Egypt's lion-headed goddess of war, Sekhmet, in the country's south, the Supreme Council of the Antiquities announced on Monday.

A Johns Hopkins University archeological team unearthed the 70cm head of the statue in the temple of Mut, wife of Amun, the great god of Thebes in the ancient city of Luxor, the council's pharaonic artifacts department director, Sabri Abdul Aziz, told reporters.

The remaining part of the statue was not found. It is believed to be as old as the temple, built under 18th dynasty king Amenhotep III (1417-1379), Abdul Aziz said. - Sapa-AFP