Archaeological discoveries in Bahbit al-Hajara

Archaeologists from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities have discovered the remains of two massive statues in the village of Bahbit al-Hajara, located in the Gharbia Governorate. The discovery occurred during rescue excavations initiated after a local resident, Khaled el-Shahat Khalil, reported finding an inscribed stone block on private land.

The findings include a massive head of King Ramesses II, standing approximately 1.60 meters high, depicting the king in the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Experts estimate the original complete statue, including its base, may have reached a height of between 8.5 and 9 meters. A second large portion of a royal statue, measuring about 2.40 meters in length, was also recovered; its facial features suggest it may also belong to Ramesses II and it is depicted wearing the traditional nemes headdress.

Additionally, teams recovered a 1.30-meter pink granite block featuring hieroglyphic inscriptions of the king’s royal titles, including ‘Nesu Beti’ (King of Upper and Lower Egypt) and ‘Sa Ra’ (Son of Ra). Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, noted that these discoveries provide further insight into the historical and cultural importance of the Bahbit al-Hajara region and the architectural development of the Nile Delta site. The region is also known for an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Ongoing excavations continue to aim at clarifying the site's history and its relationship to nearby ancient structures.