A team of archaeologists working in Egypt has uncovered new details about a prominent Pharaoh known as Ramesses II, located about 250 kilometers south of Cairo. The recent discovery included the upper portion of a statue attributed to the ancient ruler. Experts encountered this 3.8-meter-high fragment during restoration work at the Ashmunein Basilica, a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary that dates back to the sixth century AD. The finding was formally reported by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA).
Earlier historical records note that the lower portion of Ramesses II’s statue was found by German archaeologist Günter Roeder in 1930. When combined, the full monument would have stood around seven meters tall, making it among the most impressive depictions of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt.
The statue labeled as Pharaoh II portrays Ramesses wearing a double crown and a headdress topped with a uraeus, the royal cobra emblem. On the reverse side, inscriptions in hieroglyphs celebrate the ruler’s achievements and authority. These carvings provide valuable insights into the ritual and symbolic language used to honor high kings during Ramesses II’s era.
Ramesses II reigned over Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BCE, a period when the civilization extended from present-day Sudan in the south to lands approaching Syria in the north. The era witnessed a powerful empire that produced monumental architecture and statuary intended to project strength and legitimacy across a broad frontier. Among the most famous monuments associated with Ramesses II are the colossal statues at Abu Simbel, four immense figures carved into the mountainside that measure roughly 20 meters in height each, illustrating the enduring scale of his royal program.
These discoveries illuminate an ancient practice of placing royal sculptures within or adjacent to sacred spaces. The concept of a rock-cut necropolis and secluded tombs near religious sites reflects a blend of funerary tradition and royal propaganda that characterized Old and New Kingdom refinements in monumental art. Each fragment and inscription helps researchers reconstruct the cultural milieu in which Ramesses II governed, including religious devotion, crown symbolism, and the political messages embedded in sculpture.