In 2002 another well-preserved statue of Queen Tiyeshown here on March 27, 2008was discovered beneath the right leg of the northern colossus at the second pylon of Amenhotep III's Luxor temple complex.

The queen was usually depicted by the king's right leg, though in much smaller scale. The larger-than-life representation of the queen shows the emerging empowerment of royal women during ancient Egypt's New Kingdom, according to experts.

[The statue] shows that the women of the crown are so important they are represented openly on colossus statues, said Hourig Sourouzian, director of the excavations.

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