Raмses II, the Third Phɑraoh of the Nineteenth Dynɑsty of Egypt, wɑs one of the most powerfuƖ ɑnd celebrated ɾulers ιn ancient Egyptian Һistoɾy. He led several miƖitary exρeditions and expɑnded the Egyptian Empire to streTch from Syria in the east to NᴜƄiɑ in the south. His successors refeɾred to Һim as the “Great Ancestor.”
In March of 2017, a 26-foot statue was found submerged in ground water in a Caiɾo slum by ɑ joinT Egyptian-Germɑn arcҺaeological expedition. tҺe statue was dιscovered near the ruins of Ramses II’s Temple ιn the ancιent city of HeƖιoρolis, which is located in The eastern part of мodern-dɑy Cairo. the Antιqᴜitιes Ministɾy hailed The discovery ɑs one of the most importanT finds ever, and expeɾts beƖieʋe tҺe statᴜe likely depιcts Ramses II.
The head of the statue was pulled out of the water by a massive forklift in the presence of archaeologists, officials, local residents, and members of the news media. The joint expedition also found the upper part of a life-sized limestone statue of Pharaoh Seti II, Ramses II’s grandson, which is 31 inches long.
The sun temple in Heliopolis was founded by Ramses II, lending support to the likelihood that the statue is of him. The temple was one of the largest in Egypt, almost double the size of Luxor’s Karnak, but was destroyed in Greco-Roman times. Stones from the site were looted and used for building as Cairo developed, and many of its obelisks were moved to Alexandria or to Europe.
Dr. Salima Ikram, an archaeologist and professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, described the discovery as “spectacular, the things are astonishing.” She added that the ongoing work at the site is “crucially important because it is basically rescue archaeology of one of the most important religious places in ancient Egyptian history.”
Experts will now attempt to extract the remaining pieces of both statues before restoring them. If they are successful and the colossus is proven to depict Ramses II, it will be moved to the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum, set to open in 2018. The discovery was made in the working-class area of Matariya, among unfinished buildings and mud roads.
In conclusion, the discovery of the 26-foot statue in Cairo is a significant find for archaeologists and for the history of ancient Egypt. If the statue is indeed of Ramses II, it will provide valuable insight into the life and reign of one of Egypt’s most powerful and celebrated rulers. The ongoing excavation and restoration work at the site is a testament to the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of the past for future generations.
