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Colossal Ramesses II Statue Fragments Unearthed in Egypt’s Nile Delta
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Statue Fragments Discovered in Gharbia Governorate
Archaeologists from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) were alerted to a site in the village of Behbeit el-Hagar after local resident Khaled el-Shahat Khalil found an inscribed granite block on his property. Excavations in the Gharbia Governorate uncovered fragments of two massive royal statues, both believed to represent Pharaoh Ramesses II, who ruled from about 1279 to 1213 BC.
Details of the Finds
The first fragment consists of a 1.6-meter-high head displaying the double crown that symbolized the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. A portion of the statue’s back pillar bears the inscription “Hor Ka Nakht Mery Maat,” confirming the ruler’s identity. Archaeologists estimate that the complete monument, including its base, may have originally stood roughly 8.5 meters tall.
The second fragment is a 2.4-meter section of another statue, missing its legs and base but retaining a well-preserved head whose facial features echo those of the first piece. The exact age of the statues has not yet been determined.
Official Response
Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general of the SCA, said the team will continue to study the artifacts to better understand their provenance and original context. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery and noted that Minister Sherif Fathy visited the site, rewarding Khalil and his wife with a pilgrimage to Mecca for reporting the find.
Significance and Recent Context
The discovery adds to a series of high-profile finds in Egypt this year, including the upper section of a Ramesses II statue uncovered in Minya Governorate in early 2024 and re-erected in 2026, as well as New Kingdom tombs at Saqqara and a Roman-era tomb in the Dakhla Oasis. These finds underscore the Nile Delta’s rich archaeological potential and provide new material for scholars studying New Kingdom royal iconography.