Egypt · 13th century BC · Behbeit El-Hagar, Gharbia, Egypt
Farmer's cucumber greenhouse leads archaeologists to two colossal Ramses II statues in Egypt
Excavations at Behbeit El-Hagar in the Nile Delta found a head more than 5 feet tall from a statue that may once have stood nearly 28 feet high.
Behbeit El-Hagar, Egypt A farmer growing cucumbers in the Nile Delta found an inscribed stone that led archaeologists to the remains of two colossal statues. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities says one depicts Ramses II, the New Kingdom pharaoh who died in 1213 BC. The second is also believed to show him.
The farmer came across the stone while working in a cucumber greenhouse on his land in the village of Behbeit El-Hagar, according to the Egyptian news outlet Youm7. He alerted the local antiquities authorities. They inspected the site and found the statues during the excavations that followed, ministry officials said.
“One of the statues has been identified as depicting King Ramses II, while the other is also believed to represent the same pharaoh.”
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, translated statement
The team also found a block of pink granite carved with hieroglyphs. The inscriptions include several of the king's royal titles.
A head more than 5 feet tall
The first statue has a colossal head of Ramses II measuring more than 5 feet (about 1.5 metres) tall, officials said. The king wears the double crown, the symbol of the union of Upper and Lower Egypt. An inscription on the statue's back pillar gives one of his royal names. Archaeologists estimate that the complete statue, with its base, may have stood nearly 28 feet (about 8.5 metres) tall.
The second statue measures nearly 8 feet (about 2.4 metres) long. Its legs and base are missing. Its head survives, and officials say the face is clear and well preserved.
“These features closely resemble those of the first statue.”
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, translated statement
A famous king and a contested link
Ramses II was born in 1303 BC and died in 1213 BC. He was one of the most powerful pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Statues of him are known from many sites in Egypt. Earlier this year, archaeologists found another massive statue believed to depict him at a Nile Delta site north-east of Cairo.
Some scholars have suggested that Ramses II was the pharaoh of the biblical Book of Exodus, who refuses Moses' demand to free the Israelites. The Old Testament does not name that ruler. The identification remains uncertain.
Behbeit El-Hagar lies in the central Delta. It is best known for the granite ruins of a temple to the goddess Isis, built centuries after Ramses II's reign. Reports of the ministry's announcement do not say how the new statues relate to that temple.
Excavations and studies at the site are continuing, officials said.
“These investigations are expected to help researchers develop a clearer understanding of the two statues, the area's history and its architectural development during ancient Egyptian times.”
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, translated statement
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