Colossal Head of Ramesses II Unearthed Oct 2026

Discovery announced: 13th October 2026.

An unexpected discovery in Egypt’s Nile Delta has brought to light the remains of two colossal royal statues, one identified as Ramesses II, the celebrated pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty, who ruled from approximately 1279 to 1213 B.C.

The discovery was made in the village of Behbeit el-Hagar, in Gharbia Governorate, after a local resident unearthed an inscribed stone block whilst working on his land. Recognising its possible antiquity, he alerted the archaeological authorities, prompting rescue excavations by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Among the remarkable finds is a colossal limestone head of Ramesses II, measuring approximately 1.60 metres in height. The king wears the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, an enduring emblem of his sovereignty over the Two Lands. Part of the statue’s back pillar survives, bearing his Horus name, “Hor Ka Nakht Mery Ma’at”, meaning “Horus, Strong Bull, Beloved of Ma’at”. Archaeologists estimate that the complete monument, including its base, once stood approximately 8.5 metres tall.

Nearby, excavators uncovered substantial remains of a second royal statue, measuring approximately 2.40 metres in its surviving length. Although its legs and base are missing, the king’s facial features remain remarkably well preserved beneath the familiar striped nemes headdress. Its resemblance to the first statue suggests that this monument, too, may represent Ramesses II.

A further discovery of a pink granite block, measuring approximately 1.30 metres, revealed hieroglyphic inscriptions bearing the royal titles “King of Upper and Lower Egypt and Son of Ra”.

More than three thousand years after his reign, the monumental presence of Ramesses the Great continues to emerge from Egyptian soil. Excavations remain ongoing, with archaeologists hoping to establish the original setting and significance of these imposing sculptures.

Summary:

Colossal Fragments of Ramesses II Unearthed

New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses II, c. 1279–1213 B.C.

Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Supreme Council of Antiquities, as reported by Ahram Online.