Egypt has announced that its archaeologists, along with their American counterparts, have unearthed the upper part of a life-sized statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, dating back over 3,200 years.
A section of the limestone statue of Ramses II that was excavated. (Photo: Reuters).
The Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, reported that the upper part of the statue, made of limestone and standing 3.8 meters tall, was discovered in Minya province in southern Egypt. This upper section matches the lower part of the statue of the Egyptian Pharaoh, which was found in 1930.
The statue depicts the likeness of Pharaoh Ramses II, adorned with two crowns symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt, signifying his role as the ruler of a united Egypt. Additionally, one of the crowns features a cobra, a symbol of Egyptian royalty. The back of the statue is inscribed with hieroglyphs honoring Pharaoh Ramses II and details the time period during which the statue was carved.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, when the upper and lower parts are joined, the complete statue of Pharaoh Ramses II will stand 7 meters tall.
| Pharaoh Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, is one of the most powerful and revered Pharaohs in ancient Egyptian history. He was the third Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty, reigning from 1279 to 1213 BC. He led numerous major campaigns, expanding the Egyptian Empire from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south. |
