In a joint effort, Egyptian and American archaeologists unearthed the upper half of King Ramses II’s statue in Minya’s Ashmunein region, according to a statement by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Monday, 4 March. The mission, led by archaeologists Basem Jihad and Yuvouna Tranka, is a collaborative effort between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Colorado. The unearthed upper half of the statue complements the lower part found in 1930 by German archaeologist G. Roeder. Mustafa Waziri, head of the Supreme Council, noted that the council has begun cleaning and strengthening the fragment for further study and visualization of the complete statue. In the statement, Adel Akasha, head of the Central Directorate of Archaeology of Central Egypt, stated that the year-long excavation aimed to uncover the religious center of Minya’s Ashmonine, spanning the modern state era to the Roman period, including potential temples dedicated to King Ramses II. He believes this statue fragment underscores the site’s significance, hinting at further archaeological discoveries to come. Made of limestone and 3.8 meters tall, the upper half of the statue depicts King Ramses II seated, adorned with…
Missing Top Half of Ramses II Statue Found By Archaeologists in Egypt
March 5, 2024
