A joint Korean research team working in Luxor has uncovered hieroglyphs bearing the name of Ramses II at the Ramesseum, adding new detail to one of ancient Egypt’s most studied monuments.
The discovery was made during fieldwork in 2025 by researchers from the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the Korea National University of Heritage. The team had been examining the area around the temple’s collapsed pylon, where conservation work is planned. Among the finds was a carved cartouche—an oval frame enclosing hieroglyphs used to display a pharaoh’s royal name.
Cartouches are closely tied to royal identity and chronology. Because they contain a ruler’s name, they can help fix the date of a structure or inscription with some precision. In this case, the presence of Ramses II’s cartouche confirms activity linked to one of Egypt’s most prominent pharaohs at this part of the site.
Built during Ramses II’s reign in the 13th century B.C., the Ramesseum was a mortuary temple where rituals were carried out in honour of the king after his death. Much of the complex has been damaged over time, and the entrance pylon collapsed long ago. Most currently, however, it will be a matter of documenting and stabilising what remains before any reconstruction is undertaken.
Alongside the cartouche, the team identified part of an architectural element inscribed with the name of a place not previously recorded. Researchers suggest this could relate to territories associated with Ramses II’s rule, offering a possible lead for further study of the extent of his influence.
The project forms part of an ongoing collaboration between Korean institutions and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, which began in 2023. The work was initiated following discussions between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and former South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Preparations are now under way for the next phase of conservation. A temporary scaffold structure is being installed over the pylon area to protect the remains from weathering and to allow detailed restoration work to proceed. According to KHS, this is the first time such a protective system has been used at an Egyptian site in this way.
The Korean team has also been working with Egyptian staff on site, providing training in architectural recording methods and 3D scanning techniques as part of the project’s wider conservation effort.
Sources : Korea Heritage Service
