Egyptian farmer discovers two giant statues of Ramses II while cultivating his land

The arable lands of the Nile Delta are full of mysterious artifacts. On October 14, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism announced, on social networks, the discovery of a priceless relic not far from the banks of the longest river in the world.

A resident of the small village of Behbeit El-Hagar, in the governorate of Gharbia, unearthed two monumental statues of Ramses II, the emblematic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, a few months ago while he was cultivating his land. The farmer immediately alerted the archaeological services and a specialized working group of the Supreme Council of Antiquities so that they could carry out an inspection and extract the two sculptures from the ground, as well as a block of pink granite with hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Archaeologists, according to the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, first identified an imposing stone head measuring approximately 1.60 meters high, topped with the double crown of Ramesses II, once the symbol of unification between Upper and Lower Egypt.

According to the researchers, this head belonged to a much larger group measuring 8.5 meters high. This is evidenced by the discovery of another part of the body of the statue, where one of the royal titles of the legendary pharaoh is still engraved.

A second sculpture, 2.4 meters long, was found nearby, without the legs or its base. Then again, it must have been much more imposing at the time. His head has been preserved in “good condition”, with the traditional Nemes headdress.

A peasant-citizen congratulated

The archaeological services finally made the surprising discovery of a block of granite, 1.30 meters long. According to the ministry, it bears the inscriptions of two of the royal titles attributed to Ramesses II: the “King of Upper and Lower Egypt” and the “Son of Re”.

In a statement, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities expressed his “satisfaction with these archaeological discoveries which represent an important addition to the other discoveries that Egypt is witnessing”.

“They help to shed further light on the history of the Behbeit El-Hagar region, known for the remains of a large temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, as well as its cultural importance,” he adds.

The ministry indicates that it intends to “continue research and excavation work on the site” and study the historical links between the two statues, the engraved granite block and the environment to which they belonged.

He also congratulates the peasant for his “vigilance”. “He quickly reported the presence of the stone block in his field and proves to us the importance of the community’s role in the protection and preservation of Egyptian cultural heritage,” he concludes.