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A colossal head of Ramesses II discovered at Behbeit el-Hagar
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on October 13 the discovery, at Behbeit el-Hagar in the Nile Delta, of a colossal head of Ramesses II and a second royal statue. It all started with a local resident's report of having unearthed a granite block covered in hieroglyphs.
Par la rédaction Walensky · 3 min de lecture
- 1.60 m tall for the colossal head of Ramesses II
- 8.50 m for the original statue, base included
- 2.40 m for the preserved part of the second statue
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on October 13, in a statement published on Facebook, the discovery of a colossal head of Ramesses II and a second royal statue. They were unearthed during rescue excavations carried out by an Egyptian archaeological mission at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the Nile Delta.
The discovery began with a local resident, Khaled el-Shahat Khalil, who was working on a plot of land in front of his house. He unearthed a granite block bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions and immediately alerted the local authorities. Excavations were launched shortly afterwards.
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The head of Ramesses II is made of granite and measures about 1.60 m. The pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty wears the pschent, the double crown symbolizing his rule over Upper and Lower Egypt, and sports a thick false beard.
A statue originally nearly 8.50 m tall
The top of the dorsal pillar, the stone slab that supported the statue from behind, was also found. It bears the king's Horus name, Kanakht Merymaat, usually translated as "The Powerful Bull, beloved of Maat". According to Hisham El-Leity, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the original statue reached nearly 8.50 m, base included.
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A block of pink granite 1.30 m long is decorated with hieroglyphs giving part of the pharaoh's titulary. It reads the name Nesout-Bity (King of Upper and Lower Egypt) Ousermaatre, and that of Sa-Re (Son of Re) Ramesses, beloved of Amun.
A second statue yet to be identified
A second head appeared near the first. Only the main part survives, over 2.40 m; the legs and base have not been found. The face is in good condition and wears the nemes, a royal headcloth of yellow and blue striped fabric.
The identity of this statue remains to be confirmed. According to researchers, its features are close to those of the first, suggesting that it also depicts Ramesses II.
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Behbeit el-Hagar is an important site in the Nile Delta, known for its field of granite blocks and its temple of Isis, the Iseum, built between the reigns of Nectanebo I and Ptolemy III Euergetes I. Its ancient name, Per-hebyt, the House of the Festival, is attested as early as the 18th Dynasty, but vestiges from the New Kingdom are relatively rare there.
According to Connaissance des Arts, these statues could shed light on the history of the site and the king's building policy, nine centuries before the Iseum. Archaeologists hope that, by continuing the research, they will better understand the links between the two statues and the site. The Egyptian government is also considering restoring and rebuilding the temple of Isis.
Our view
This discovery is a reminder that an image can remain buried for a long time before reappearing, first as a mere fragment. At home, in front of a painting, it also sometimes takes time to recognize what you are looking at, one detail at a time.
Sources: Connaissance des Arts, Hyperallergic.
