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Without legs and without a base, the torso and head in limestone already weigh the equivalent of a large car. Archaeologists recognize the style of Ramses the Great, but there is a revealing detail: the monument probably originated in another city and was dragged there thousands of years ago to be reused.
The upper part of a monumental statue attributed to Pharaoh Ramses II, weighing between five and six tons and with about 2.2 meters of preserved height, was discovered at the site of Tel al-Faraoun, in the Nile Delta. According to Egyptian authorities, the find reveals a stronger presence than previously imagined of the great pharaoh in northern Egypt, shedding new light on the religious and political practices of the region in antiquity.
The discovery was announced on April 22, 2026, by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in conjunction with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and made by an Egyptian archaeological mission. First of all, an important clarification: experts attribute the statue to Ramses II based on artistic characteristics and royal iconography, but, as the piece is incomplete and worn, it is a probable identification, not an absolute certainty, something common in this type of archaeological find.
What was found in Tel al-Faraoun
Only the upper half of the statue was found, that is, the torso and head carved in limestone, missing the lower part with the legs and base, but the preserved fragment already measures about 2.2 meters in height and weighs between five and six tons, dimensions compatible with Ramses II’s taste for grandiose monuments.
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Despite the state of conservation compromised by time, the statue retains elements that allowed researchers to associate it with the pharaoh, such as details of the traditional royal headdress and artistic characteristics typical of the period known as the New Kingdom.
Archaeologists believe that the piece may have been part of a triad, a set of three statues that used to depict the king alongside deities, a common arrangement in Egyptian temples.
Who was Ramses II, the great pharaoh
To understand the importance of the find, it is necessary to know the character.
Ramses II, also called Ramses the Great, was one of the most powerful and celebrated pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, having ruled for about 66 years, between approximately 1279 and 1213 BC, during the 19th dynasty, in a reign marked by military conquests and an intense activity of temple and monument construction.
Precisely because of his long reign and his obsession with immortalizing himself in stone, Ramses II is one of the most represented rulers in Egyptian history, with numerous statues scattered throughout the country.
It is worth mentioning that some scholars, based on tradition, speculate that he might have been the pharaoh associated with the biblical story of Moses and the Exodus, although this relationship is a subject of debate and there is no definitive historical consensus on the matter.
The mystery of transportation and reuse
Preliminary studies suggest that the statue was not originally made for Tel al-Faraoun, but rather in the city of Pi-Ramses, the grand capital founded by Ramses II himself in the Delta, and was later transported to the new location in antiquity to be reused in a religious complex, according to Egyptian authorities.
This reuse of royal monuments was a relatively common practice in Ancient Egypt, reflecting both practical and symbolic aspects of the culture of the time.
Transporting a piece of this size, even in antiquity, required large teams of workers, logistical planning, and the use of river routes connected to the Nile.
The fact shows how regional centers maintained connections with the great royal capitals, adapting ancient monuments for new religious uses.
What the discovery reveals about the region
The find helps retell the history of a place little known to the general public.
Known in Antiquity as Imet, the site of Tel al-Faraoun is confirmed as an important religious center from different periods of Egyptian history, even though it is much less famous than established destinations like Luxor and Abu Simbel, holding an archaeological heritage considered extremely valuable by specialists.
According to Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian antiquities sector, the find is an important evidence for the study of religious and power dynamics in the eastern Delta.
After the excavation, the statue was transferred to a warehouse in San El-Hagar, where it will undergo restoration work.
Archaeologists believe that new monuments and artifacts may still be buried in the area.
The discovery of the statue attributed to Ramses II in Tel al-Faraoun is another fascinating chapter in the inexhaustible history of Ancient Egypt, revealing not only the grandeur of the pharaoh’s monuments but also the ingenious habits of transportation and reuse of works in Antiquity.
Even though the identification is likely and depends on future studies, the find reinforces the importance of a less known region and fuels the expectation for new revelations under the sands of the Nile Delta.
After all, even after millennia of research, Egypt continues to surprise the world.
And you, are you interested in the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and the history of pharaohs like Ramses II? What did you think about knowing that a six-ton statue was transported and reused thousands of years ago? Leave your comment, tell us what fascinates you most about Egypt, and share the article with those who love history, archaeology, and ancient civilizations.
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