I'd like to note that some people have places they need to be during the day where they lack forum access.
Also, you might wanna consider a simple examination of the statues would have revealed they were hellcat statues, and that opening the chest while it was in the room may have been the LAST thing you'd have wanted to do 
Hey, if you asked my what a magical trap on that chest would do, pretty much my
last answer would be "Break Enchantment on the statues to turn them back into hellcats." I would have guessed things like "releases a gout of flame" (fire trap) or "Animate Objects on the statue" or something LONG beforehand.
And does anyone actually have Knowledge (planes)?
Now, this room is quite a bit larger than the ones so far. There is a raised section along the back(that is almost like a dais) with what looks to be several strong-boxes and a chest in the middle, as well as 10 statues of what appears to be stylized lions along the north and south walls...
Emphasis mine. Whenever a DM say appears to be, you might wanna take a closer look....
What kind of stupid DM only says "appears" when it's actually something else? Or, for that matter, only brings up details that are directly relevant?
I knew the statues would be
something, but hellcats was somewhere below "gargoyles pouring acid into the room."
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Anyways.
I will now sheathe my kukuris and draw my longbows. Two move actions.
Next!