A man in Egypt uncovered pink granite with hieroglyphs, revealing colossal statues of Ramses II. Archaeologists now seek clues about an ancient temple dedicated to the pharaoh.
Pink granite with hieroglyphs discovered
A man in Egypt found a piece of pink granite covered with hieroglyphs while working on his property. He contacted local authorities, who then organized archaeological excavations at the site.Colossal statue head uncovered
Archaeologists uncovered a head about 1.5 meters tall, likely from a colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II. This ruler was in power from around 1279 to 1213 BCE.Second statue fragment found
A second statue fragment, depicting Ramses II, was also discovered. The upper part of this statue was found, and it shows the king wearing a double crown, a symbol of his rule over both Upper and Lower Egypt.Inscription reveals royal title
On the second statue fragment, archaeologists recorded an inscription: "Har Ka Nakht Mery Maat," which translates to "The Mighty Bull, Beloved of Maat." This is one of the five official titles of the pharaoh.Statue size and temple clues
Based on the size of the head and the back part of the pillar, experts estimate the original statue was nearly 8.5 meters tall. The discovery may be linked to an ancient temple dedicated to Ramses II.Other findings and questions
The village of Behebat al-Hijara is already known for its archaeological heritage, including the remains of a temple dedicated to Isis. The discovery of these statues raises questions about whether an older temple once stood there or if the elements were moved from another site.Continuing excavations
Archaeologists plan to continue excavations in the area, hoping to find more remains and learn more about Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt's longest-ruling sovereigns.
