Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a pharaoh statue with a head alone measuring 1.6 meters
In Egypt's Gharbia Governorate, fragments of two colossal statues, which may depict Ramesses II, have been discovered. The head portion of one of them is nearly 1.6 meters in height, and it is estimated that the statue's original total height, together with its pedestal, reached 8.5 meters.
Archaeologists in Egypt find pharaoh statue with 1.6-meter head
Naked Science, citing Heritage Daily, reports that the discoveries were made in the settlement of Behbeit el-Hagar by an expedition from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Excavations began after a local resident found an inscribed fragment of stone while cultivating land near his home. He reported this to the antiquities protection inspectorate.
Initial inspection confirmed the archaeological significance of the stone. Following this, a special commission and an excavation team were dispatched to the area.
Archaeologists found parts of two colossal pharaonic statues and a piece of pink granite inscribed with hieroglyphs associated with Ramesses II.
According to Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council, the first statue's head depicts the double crown known as the "pschent." It combined the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt, symbolizing the unity of the two regions under the pharaoh's rule.
Part of the statue's rear support pillar has also been preserved. It bears the Horus name—"Kha-nekht-meri-Maat"—which was part of the pharaoh's official titles. Such a name emphasized the ruler's connection to the god Horus and his legitimate right to the throne.
The second find is a preserved section of another pharaonic statue measuring nearly 2.4 meters in height. Archaeologists believe this statue may also depict Ramesses II.
It lacks feet and a base, but its upper portion features the traditional striped "nemes" headdress characteristic of pharaohs. Although the top portion of the headdress is partially missing, the statue's head and facial features are quite well preserved.
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of Egypt's Nineteenth Dynasty during the New Kingdom period. He ruled from approximately 1279 to 1213 BC. His reign, lasting over six decades, was marked by major construction projects, military campaigns, and the erection of monumental temples and statues in Egypt and Nubia.