A Buddha statue has been discovered at an Egyptian archaeological site near the Red Sea, revealing important trade links between the Roman Empire and India, Egypt’s antiquities ministry said today.

American and Polish archaeologists discovered the specific statue in Berenice, an ancient port city in southeastern Egypt, the ministry said.

The 71cm statue, which dates back to the Roman era, depicts a robed, limbless Buddha on the right side, a halo surrounding his head in reference to the sun’s rays, according to a photo he provided to publicity the ministry.

Egypt was then “at the center of the trade route that connected the Roman Empire with many areas of the ancient world,” said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Ships arrived mainly from India, laden with spices, jewels, textiles and ivory.

Egypt regularly announces archaeological discoveries, with some experts seeing them more as a tool to promote tourism than of historical interest.

The country is trying to revive its critical tourism sector, which suffered greatly from political instability after the 2011 uprising, then the Covid-19 health crisis and finally the war between Ukraine and Russia. two countries that are major sources of tourists for Egypt.