Ramses II Rules Over Egypt
Ramses II ruled over Egypt during the 19th dynasty, which lasted over 3000 years. During his reign, the vast Egyptian empire stretched from Syria to Sudan.
Source: Wikimedia
Ramses II was revered for his military prowess during his six-decade reign. He was celebrated as a pharaoh who led the Egyptians through a period of prosperity and dominance over neighboring empires.
Statues of the Famous Pharaoh
A new capital for the empire was constructed during the pharaoh’s reign, known as Pi-Ramses in Northeastern Egypt at Qantir.
Source: Wikimedia
Due to the pharaoh’s popularity, numerous statues of Ramses II were constructed during his lifetime and even some after.
The Upper Half of Ramses Statue Discovered
Archaeologists working in modern-day el-Ashmnein came across a marvelous find as they unearthed the top half of an enormous statue of Ramses II.
Source: Smithsonianmag
The find was not far from the ancient city of Hermopolis, which lies around 155 miles south of Cairo.
Ramses II Depicted With Double Crown
Archaeologists went on to remove the immense stone statue, which sat around 12.5 feet high, from the sand.
Source: Wikimedia
Ramses is depicted wearing a double crown and a royal headdress topped with a sacred cobra.
Hieroglyphs Speak of the Pharaoh’s Titles
As the archaeologists removed the statue from the sand, they discovered the back was inscribed with hieroglyphics.
Source: Wikimedia
The inscriptions spoke of Ramses’ numerous titles, which helped to glorify the ruler.
Joint Efforts Between Egyptian and U.S. Teams
The important Ramses II statue was discovered by the joint efforts of an Egyptian-American team under the command of Basem Gehad of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Source: Freepik
Assistant professor of classics at the University of Colorado Boulder, Yvona Trnka-Amrhein, led the American side.
The Find Solves Century-Old Puzzle
The well-preserved statue of one of Egypt’s most revered rulers is important for several reasons.
Source: Wikipedia
Most importantly, it helped archaeologists also close the chapter on a century-old puzzle.
The Lower Half of the Ramses II Statue
After further investigations, researchers discovered that the top half of the statue matched a previously discovered lower half.
Source: Wikimedia
Nearly a century ago, German archaeologist Gunther Roeder discovered the lower section of the limestone statue during an excavation.
The Statue Is Reunited With the Bottom Half
In the wake of the discovery, archaeologists and Egyptologists have revealed their excitement about putting the two statues together.
Source: Wikimedia
Currently, a team of archaeologists is working on creating a display that will showcase the complete statue for the first time in many millennia.
Hundreds of Statues Found Across Egypt
Hundreds of statues of Ramses II have been discovered across Egypt.
Source: Wikimedia
Some of the most impressive are found in Abu Simbel, in the southern portion of the nation. Here, statues of Ramses II reach an astonishing 66 feet high.
The End of an Era
Ramses II eventually passed away at the impressive age of 90 and was buried in the sacred Valley of the Kings.
Source: Wikimedia
However, Ramses II’s memory lives on and will continue, too, thanks to the discovery of new statues and monuments dedicated to the great pharaoh.