Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a granite head statue, believed to be that of the 19th Dynasty King of ancient Egypt Ramesses II, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said in a press release on Thursday.
The red granite head was discovered during routine excavations at the archaeological site of Tell Basta, about 80 km to the northeast of Cairo, in the eastern Nile Delta, said Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni.
Announcing the discovery on Wednesday, Hosni said the head statue is likely to belong to a colossal statue of the king that once stood in the area.
According to Secretary General of the SCA Zahi Hawass, the nose of the 76-cm-high statue is broken and the false beard is missing.
He said the finding is of great importance "because it may indicate that the excavators are close to the ruins of a major temple of Ramesses II in the area."
A development plan for the construction of a museum and a visitor's center is currently being carried out in Tell Basta, the site that was sacred to the ancient Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet.
Ramesses II, who is believed to have ruled ancient Egypt from 1279 BC to 1213 BC (others said from 1304 BC to 1237 BC), is one of the longest-serving pharaohs and most powerful kings in ancient Egypt. |
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