Ramses II, the illustrious Dynasty 19 pharaoh of ancient Egypt of the New Kingdom, is famed for his expansive conquests into modern-day Syria, his prodigious fathering of approximately 100 children, and his opulent burial artifacts. Despite his historical prominence, the carved granite sarcophagus enclosing his lavish coffin has eluded identification — until now. Frédéric Payraudeau, an Egyptologist at the Sorbonne University in France, has re-evaluated a sarcophagus fragment in May, initially unearthed in the ancient necropolis of Abydos in 2009. Initially, experts believed the intricately engraved stone container was the final resting place for two distinct individuals across different eras. The second occupant was identified as Menkheperre, a high priest from around 1000 B.C.E. during the Third Intermediate Period. However, the identity of the first occupant remained enigmatic, known only to be a prominent figure from the Egyptian New Kingdom, according to a report by Jennifer Nalewicki for Live Science and a statement from the French National Center for Scientific Research. Upon examining the inscriptions on the sarcophagus fragment, including a previously obscured and misidentified cartouche — a distinctive oval enclosing a royal name — Frédéric Payraudeau identified the hieroglyphs…
Previously Overlooked Hieroglyphics Offer Key to Ramses II’s Lost Sarcophagus
June 2, 2024
