Head of statue of Ramses II Discovered in Egypt

A team of Egypt/U.S. archaeologists recently unearthed the head of a statue belonging to Ramses II. He is widely regarded as one of ancient Egypt’s greatest pharaohs. Research studies show it’s a match for the bottom of the statue discovered in 1930 by a German archaeologist.  

The 12.5-foot limestone fragment found in southern Egypt features the upper torso, shoulders, and head of King Ramses II, embellished with a double crown and a cobra-headdress. 

Ramses II, reigning from 1279 BC to 1213 BC during the Nineteenth Dynasty, is celebrated as one of the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Renowned for his military prowess, he reclaimed Egypt’s dominance over the Levant and expanded its territorial boundaries. His legacy also includes numerous monumental construction projects, notably the iconic Abu Simbel.  

He was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings and his mummy is on display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

Efforts are now underway to clean and possibly reunite the upper and lower sections of the statue, which would stand at roughly 23 feet.