Archaeologists have uncovered part of an ancient statue of a pharaoh in Egypt, thought to depict Ramesses II. The fragment, which includes the legs and base of the statue, stands about seven feet tall and weighs between five and six tons, according to officials overseeing the dig. It was found at Tel Faraoun, a site in the eastern Nile Delta, during excavations led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Ramesses II, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BC, is associated by many scholars with the pharaoh mentioned in the biblical story of Moses. The Bible does not explicitly name the Pharaoh, but Exodus 1:1 mentions Hebrew slaves building the city of 'Raamses' (or Pi-Ramesses), leading many to identify Ramesses II as the biblical figure. Ramesses II is known to have led an army of around 100,000 men, reflecting his military power and the scale of his reign.
Early analysis suggests the statue may not have originally been carved for the site where it was discovered, archaeologists said. Researchers believe the statue could have been transported from Pi-Ramesses, the grand royal city established by Ramesses II in the Nile Delta. Experts added that the statue may have been reused inside a temple complex at Tel Faraoun, known in antiquity as Emet. Further study of the stone, carving techniques, and remaining surface details could help pinpoint the statue's exact origin and understand how it was relocated, according to archaeologists. This evidence of reuse highlights the long history of the site and the value placed on royal monuments.
The fragment may have once formed part of a much larger sculptural group, possibly depicting the king alongside Egyptian deities, officials overseeing the excavation said. Comparable discoveries at other sites have shown rulers arranged in ceremonial triads, suggesting that this statue might have been part of a similar composition. The presence of such a group would underscore the religious and political significance of Ramesses II's image in ancient Egypt.