Egyptian resident unearths head of Ramses II statue
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A resident of Behbeit el-Hagar, Egypt, discovered a marked stone near his home and alerted authorities, leading to the excavation of a 1.60-meter-tall head belonging to a statue of Pharaoh Ramses II.
The discovery occurred in the Nile Delta region, an area already known for ancient ruins. Archaeologists determined the head’s identity through an inscription of Ramses II’s Horus name and the presence of a double crown symbolizing rule over Upper and Lower Egypt.
The statue, once complete, is estimated to have stood around 8.5 meters tall. During the excavation, researchers also found a 2.40-meter section of another royal statue, possibly also Ramses II, due to similar facial features, though final confirmation is pending. They also uncovered a 1.30-meter block of rose granite bearing royal titles. Behbeit el-Hagar is already recognized as the site of a large temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, built centuries after Ramses II’s reign.
Previous archaeological work in the area revealed fragments with Ramses II’s name, suggesting an even older structure might lie beneath the modern town. Archaeologists will now work to determine the origins and placement of these newly discovered pieces and how they connect to the site’s broader history.
