Egyptian farmer discovers 3,200-year-old statues of Ramses II

An Egyptian farmer, Khaled el-Shahat, discovered ancient statues while cultivating cucumbers in a greenhouse in Behbeit El Hagar, a village in the Nile Delta. The find, located approximately 130 kilometers north of Cairo, includes a 1.6-meter head of Ramses II wearing the double crown, symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Rescue excavations also uncovered a second large statue fragment, measuring about 2.4 meters, which is attributed to Ramses II based on facial similarities. The discovery was triggered by the unearthing of a pink granite block covered in hieroglyphics that identifies the pharaoh as ‘king of Upper and Lower Egypt’ and ‘son of Ra’.

Archaeologists from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities are continuing excavations at the site, which is known for the ruins of a large Temple of Isis.