Archaeologists have discovered a large portion of a colossal statue in Egypt’s Nile Delta, believed to depict legendary pharaoh Ramesses II. The mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities found this statue in the Pharaoh’s Hill in Sharkia Governorate.
According to the Al-Ahram Online website, the remaining part of this statue is about 2.20 meters long, and its weight ranges between 5 and 6 tons, although it is missing the lower part of it. This remaining portion also matches other characteristics and patterns of the period extending from the end of the reign of Ramesses the Great. In addition, this discovery directly challenges previous views on the limits or scope of royal rule, suggesting that the Nile Delta played a major role as an administrative center and center of worship during the New Kingdom.
Fragment of a statue of Ramesses II Found in Egypt
This latest discovery at the Pharaoh’s Hill, formerly known as Emet, sheds new light on the importance of the northern region of Egypt during the Nineteenth Dynasty. Experts at the Supreme Council of Antiquities point out that this statue was not originally made for this specific site. It is even likely that it was moved from the city of Pi-Ramesses, the ancient royal capital, and then reused in the local temple complex. The reuse of royal monuments indicates the political and symbolic importance these statues retained long after they were initially built; Therefore, they continued to indicate the presence of the pharaoh throughout the entire nation.
Why researchers saw a trinity in the discovery of the delta
According to the findings published in Al-Ahram Online, because of the stylistic features of the piece, including its proportions and sculpting techniques, many prominent researchers believe that this statue was originally part of a larger sculptural group, historically classified as a “trinity.” In general, trigrams represent a king with two gods positioned beside him (on either side). This is a common artistic theme used in ancient Egypt to demonstrate that the king enjoyed divine protection, as well as being an example of his right to rule.
More studies will be needed to fully support this theory; However, since there are similar sculptures representing the triads in Sharqiyah Governorate, scholars believe that this also provides additional evidence supporting that the piece belongs to a larger, polymorphic monument. The artifact has now been transferred to a storage facility located in San Al-Hajar for scientific documentation and private restoration operations.
The vital role of the delta in the administration of the New Kingdom
The discovery at the Pharaoh’s Hill is part of a national initiative to explore overlooked historical areas in Egypt’s Nile Delta, an area often thought to be very difficult for archaeologists to work in due to the large amount of water present and also the intense modern agriculture that occurs in this area. Not only does this provide new information about Ramesses II, but it also shows how the northern administrative centers had direct and meaningful connections to the major political centers during the New Kingdom. By identifying and preserving these monuments, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities continues to redefine our understanding of how the Egyptian king demonstrated and maintained power throughout ancient Egypt.
