Excavation to unearth Ramsis II colossal satatue, resumed
Egypt, History, 9/16/1999

In 1991, a team of Egyptian excavators unearthed in Akhmim, Suhag governorate a part of the face of a colossus that belongs to Ramsis II, the only Egyptian pharaoh who reigned supreme for about 60 years.

The statue is 10.5 meters high and weights 25 tons.

Though the find was deemed one of the largest in the area, excavations had to be suspended on the site for seven years. Excavations were suspended because the spot falls within the site of the Muslim's cemetery. Work was maintained as soon as the SCA finalized a study to have the cemetery moved elsewhere under a plan that costs about LE 32 million.

It was only this season that the mission of the Supreme Council for Antiquities resumed work hoping to find the rest of he statue. Digging is likely to lead to the discovery of many royal statues that belong to the old Kingdom since the site lies on the same axis of the statue of Meret Amon, the most famous of Ramsis's daughters which was discovered in 1981.

Ramsis II (1279-1213 BC) was the third ruler of the 19th dynasty. He married several times but his principal wife was Nefertari to whom the smaller temple at Abu-Simble was dedicated.

He gave birth to tens of daughters and sons, the most famous of whom is his 13th son Merinbitah who succeeded his father to the throne.

Because of his unusually long reign a vast number of temples, monuments and statuary were created, many of which have survived till date.

Among the most popular of his statues is that standing in downtown Cairo at the square named after him. Other colossal statues are found in Mit-Rahina and at the entrance of the famous temple at Abu-Simble.

Previous Stories:
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