Restoring the biggest statue in the world
Egypt, History, 10/4/1997

With the French assistance, the French-Egyptian Scientific Association (FESA) will start to restore the biggest statue in the world of Ramses II in the Romasium Temple in Luxor. The granite statue, which depicts Ramses while sitting, weighs 10,00 tons and is 20 meters high. The statue is divided into a number of pieces for unknown reasons, though archeologists think that it was broken in the earthquake that happened 1200 years ago.

The director of the Luxor archaeological sites in Luxor and Higher Egypt Mohammed Al Sogayar confirmed that the French experts will finish a comprehensive archeological and scientific study to restore the statue to its previous shape after the modern technologies and computer sciences affirmed this possibility. He added that some pieces of the statue were found buried in the area surrounding the statue. Some other small statues were found that could form a complete collection for exhibition in an open museum in the hall of the temple.

Al Sogayar clarified that some attempts were carried out by expeditions from France and Poland to restore the statue 20 years ago, but they did not continue due to the unavailability of the gauging system necessary to determine the size of the statue and the size of the lost pieces in order to decide the necessary crane for lifting them.

Al Sogayar confirmed that the study will include methods of restoration, financial requirements and the period required to restore the statue.

Previous Stories:
  80 percent booking rate for Aida   (9/18/1997)
  Tombs to open in November   (8/26/1997)
  Ramses II gets a new home   (7/24/1997)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search