Archaeologists conducting rescue excavations in the village of Behbeit El-Hagar, in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate, have uncovered the remains of two colossal royal statues, believed to depict Pharaoh Ramses II.
The discoveries were made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), following the discovery of an inscribed stone block by a local resident while working on land outside his home.
The resident reported the find to the local antiquities inspectorate, prompting an initial investigation that confirmed the block was an archaeological artefact.
Following the inspection, the Behbeit El-Hagar Antiquities Inspectorate initiated the necessary legal procedures and prepared an archaeological report documenting the discovery.
A specialised archaeological committee and excavation team from the SCA were subsequently dispatched to conduct rescue excavations at the site, revealing the remains of two monumental royal statues and a block of pink granite bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions associated with Ramses II.
Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, was the third pharaoh of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty during the New Kingdom period, reigning from approximately 1279 to 1213 BC.
His reign, which lasted for more than six decades, was characterised by extensive building programmes, military campaigns and the construction of monumental temples and statues throughout Egypt and Nubia.
According to Dr Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the first discovery consists of a colossal statue head measuring approximately 1.60 metres in height.
The head depicts Ramses II wearing the double crown, known as the pschent, which combined the White Crown of Upper Egypt and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt to symbolise the unification of the two kingdoms under the authority of the pharaoh.
Archaeologists also recovered part of the statue’s back pillar, a structural element commonly found on ancient Egyptian royal sculptures, which bears an inscription containing the king’s Horus name, “Hor-ka-nakht-mery-maat”.
The Horus name formed part of the royal titulary used by Egyptian pharaohs and identified the king with Horus, the falcon-headed deity associated with kingship and royal authority.
Based on the dimensions of the surviving head, researchers estimate that the complete statue, including its base, may originally have stood approximately 8.5 metres tall.
The estimated height indicates that the statue was a monumental royal sculpture, reflecting the scale of architectural and artistic projects undertaken during the reign of Ramses II.
The second discovery consists of a substantial portion of another royal statue, measuring approximately 2.40 metres in height, which archaeologists believe may also represent Ramses II.
Although the statue is missing its legs and base, the surviving figure depicts the king wearing the nemes, the striped royal headdress commonly associated with ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
The upper section of the headdress is partially missing, although the statue’s head was recovered with its facial features remaining clearly visible and in a good state of preservation.
According to the excavation team, the facial characteristics bear similarities to those of the first statue, supporting the preliminary identification of the second sculpture as another representation of Ramses II.
Approximately one metre north of the second statue, archaeologists uncovered a pink granite block measuring around 1.30 metres in length.
The block contains surviving hieroglyphic inscriptions that include two royal titles of Ramses II: “Nesu Beti”, meaning King of Upper and Lower Egypt, and “Sa Ra”, meaning Son of Ra.
These titles formed part of the fivefold royal titulary used by ancient Egyptian rulers, expressing their political authority and divine associations.
The title Nesu Beti represented the pharaoh’s sovereignty over the two lands of Egypt, while Sa Ra emphasised the king’s relationship with Ra, the solar deity who occupied a central position in ancient Egyptian religious beliefs.
The inscriptions provide further evidence of royal activity at the site, although additional archaeological studies will be required to establish the original context of the granite block and its relationship to the two statues.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said that the discovery represents an important addition to the archaeological record of Behbeit El-Hagar and contributes to a greater understanding of the region’s historical and cultural significance.
The minister also praised the local resident for promptly reporting the initial discovery, highlighting the importance of public awareness and community participation in protecting Egypt’s archaeological heritage.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the discovery demonstrates the importance of continuing archaeological research and rescue excavations alongside ongoing efforts to safeguard ancient monuments and archaeological sites throughout the country.
Behbeit El-Hagar is an important archaeological site in the Nile Delta, best known for the remains of a monumental temple dedicated to Isis, one of the principal deities of the ancient Egyptian pantheon.
The goddess Isis was associated with magic, protection, motherhood and kingship, and became one of the most widely venerated deities in ancient Egyptian religion.
The temple at Behbeit El-Hagar, known in antiquity as the Iseum, was a major centre of her worship and is particularly notable for its extensive use of granite in the construction of monumental architectural elements.
The surviving temple remains largely date to the Late Period and Ptolemaic era, when the sanctuary underwent significant construction and decoration.
Today, the archaeological site contains numerous granite blocks, columns, architectural fragments and inscribed elements that provide evidence of the scale and decorative complexity of the ancient temple complex.
The discovery of royal statues associated with Ramses II raises further questions about the history of the area before the construction of the surviving temple remains, and whether the sculptures were originally erected at the site or were subsequently moved from another location.
According to the Supreme Council of Antiquities, excavations and archaeological studies remain ongoing to establish the relationship between the newly discovered statues, the inscribed granite block and the surrounding archaeological remains.
Researchers will examine the surviving inscriptions, sculptural characteristics and archaeological contexts to determine the original placement and possible function of the statues.
Further investigations will also seek to identify additional architectural elements that could provide evidence of earlier phases of occupation and construction at Behbeit El-Hagar.
The SCA said that the ongoing studies will contribute to a clearer understanding of the statues and the architectural development of the site during ancient Egyptian history.
The discoveries add to the archaeological record of the Nile Delta, a region that played an important role in the political, religious and economic development of ancient Egypt throughout the Pharaonic period.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities
