A collaborative Egyptian-American Archaeological Mission has uncovered the upper portion of a colossal statue depicting Ramesses II during excavations in Egypt’s Minya Governorate.
Ramesses II, famously known as Ramesses the Great, reigned as the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty during the New Kingdom period. His reign, spanning from 1279 to 1213 BC, stands as one of the most illustrious periods in Egypt’s history, characterized by extensive military campaigns and grand construction projects.
The statue was unearthed during excavations conducted at the ancient city of Hermopolis, situated near the border of Lower and Upper Egypt. Originally known as Khemenu during the Old Kingdom era, Hermopolis emerged as the second-largest provincial capital after Thebes.
The Ancient Greeks referred to the city as Hermopolis, signifying “The City of Hermes,” associating the worship of Thoth at Hermopolis with Hermes. During the 3rd century, the Romans further developed the city into a prominent religious center. By then, it had become part of the Roman province of Thebais Prima within the administrative diocese of Egypt.
Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archaeology, disclosed that the limestone statue constitutes the upper segment of a statue previously discovered by German archaeologist G. Roeder in the 1930s.
Standing at a height of 3.8 meters (7 meters in total when combined with the portion excavated in the 1930s), the statue portrays Ramesses II adorned with the double crown and a regal headgear featuring a royal cobra. Inscribed on the upper section of the back column are hieroglyphic inscriptions detailing the esteemed titles of the pharaoh.
Additionally, Dr. Yufona Tranka elaborated that the mission has undertaken the restoration of granite columns situated on the northern side of the Basilica of Ashmonine, a 6th-century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This basilica was erected atop the ruins of the Temple of Talmi.
[Header Image Credit: The Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities]Source: The Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities
