Jump directly to the content
RAMSES RESURRECTED

Colossal 3,000-year-old statue of ancient Egyptian pharaoh branded one of the ‘most important ever finds’ is lifted from ditch in Cairo slum

The three-tonne torso was pulled up by a crane and it took dozens of workers to support it

A COLOSSAL statue that is believed to show one of Egypt's most famous pharaohs has been lifted from a muddy ditch in a Cairo slum.

The three-tonne torso was pulled up by a crane and it took dozens of workers to support it while it was moved to dry land today.

The huge statue is gently raised from a watery grave. It lay undisturbed for thousands of years
28
The huge statue is gently raised from a watery grave. It lay undisturbed for thousands of yearsCredit: Getty Images
The colossus is believed to represent Ramses II, a vital figure in Egypt's history
28
The colossus is believed to represent Ramses II, a vital figure in world historyCredit: Getty Images
The statue weighs three tonnes and is a incredibly valuable historical find
28
The statue weighs three tonnes and is an incredibly valuable historical findCredit: Reuters
After the statue parts are collected together, it will be painstakingly reconstructed
28
After the statue parts are collected together it will be painstakingly reconstructedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Crowds gathered to watch the statue rise from the water
28
Crowds gathered to watch and cheer as the statue rises from the waterCredit: Reuters

The first part of the colossus, a large portion of the head, was pulled up on Thursday.

The Ministry of Antiquities says the statue's parts will be collected at the Egyptian museum in central Cairo, where they will be pieced together and restored before being moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids, which will open next year.

MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS

Ukraine vows to fight on after Trump drops pledge to end war with Russia
VOW DROPPED

Ukraine vows to fight on after Trump drops pledge to end war with Russia

Emily Damari's mum says daughter 'in high spirits & on road to recovery'
'AMAZINGLY STRONG'

Emily Damari's mum says daughter 'in high spirits & on road to recovery'

Family of youngest Hamas hostages, 2 & 5, still don't know if they're alive
AGONISING WAIT

Family of youngest Hamas hostages, 2 & 5, still don't know if they're alive

A closer look at Barron Trump's towering height
TOWERING TRUMPS

A closer look at Barron Trump's towering height

The statue is likely of Ramses II, who ruled Egypt for 60 years more than 3,000 years ago.

The discovery, hailed by the Antiquities Ministry as one of the most important ever, was made near the ruins of Ramses II’s temple in the ancient city of Heliopolis, located in the eastern part of modern-day Cairo.

This proud Egyptian waved a flag during the excavation work
28
This proud Egyptian waved a flag during the excavation workCredit: Reuters
It took dozens of workers to safely guide it to dry land
28
It took dozens of workers to safely guide it to dry landCredit: Getty Images
The discovery was made near the ruins of Ramses II’s temple in the ancient city of Heliopolis
28
The discovery was made near the ruins of Ramses II’s temple in the ancient city of HeliopolisCredit: Getty Images
It is hoped the find will bring a boost to Egypt's under-pressure tourism
28
It is hoped the find will bring a boost to Egypt's under-pressure tourism industryCredit: Getty Images

The most powerful and celebrated ruler of ancient Egypt, the pharaoh also known as Ramses the Great was the third of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt and ruled from 1279 to 1213 BCE.

He led several military expeditions and expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south. His successors called him the "Great Ancestor".

The joint Egyptian-German expedition also found the upper part of a life-sized limestone statue of Pharaoh Seti II, Ramses II’s grandson.

The rebuilt statue will be installed at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which opens next year
28
The rebuilt statue will be installed at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which opens next yearCredit: Getty Images
The ancient stature's torso is carefully lowered to the ground
28
The ancient statue's torso is carefully lowered to the groundCredit: Getty Images
It has been hailed as one of the most important archaeological finds in the field of ancient history
28
It has been hailed as one of the most important archaeological finds in the field of ancient historyCredit: Getty Images
The statue was found underwater in the ground underneath a Cairo slum
28
The statue was found underwater in a forgotten chamber underneath a Cairo slumCredit: EPA
Ramses II led several military expeditions and expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south
28
Ramses II led several military expeditions and expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the southCredit: AP:Associated Press
It is the site of one of the largest temples in Egypt
28
It is the site of one of the largest temples in ancient EgyptCredit: EPA
Experts will now attempt to extract the remaining pieces of the statue before restoring it
28
Experts will now attempt to extract the remaining pieces of the statue before restoring itCredit: AP:Associated Press
The discovery was made in the working class area of Matariya, among unfinished buildings and mud roads
28
The discovery was made in the working class area of Matariya, among unfinished buildings and mud roadsCredit: Reuters
Ancient Egyptians believed Heliopolis was the place where the sun god lives
28
Ancient Egyptians believed Heliopolis was the place where the sun god livedCredit: EPA
An aerial view gives an impression of how massive the completed statue will be
28
An aerial view gives an impression of how massive the completed statue will beCredit: EPA
Sadly, the temple was destroyed in Greco-Roman times
28
Sadly, the temple was destroyed in Greco-Roman timesCredit: Reuters
Pharaoh Ramses II ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago
28
Pharaoh Ramses II ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years agoCredit: Reuters
Workers and archaeologists had to be careful not to damage the priceless statue any further
28
Workers and archaeologists had to be careful not to damage the priceless statue any furtherCredit: Reuters
Ramses the Great was the third of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt
28
Ramses the Great was the third of the Nineteenth Dynasty of EgyptCredit: EPA
A worker grins after the successful recovery
28
A worker grins after the successful recoveryCredit: Reuters
His successors called him the 'Great Ancestor'
28
Ramses' successors called him the 'Great Ancestor'Credit: EPA
Last week a large portion of the statue's head was recovered
28
Last week a large portion of the statue's head was recoveredCredit: AP:Associated Press
Next year the statue will once again look out over the people of Egypt
28
Next year the statue will once again look out over the people of EgyptCredit: Getty Images
A boy rides his his bicycle past the head of the recently discovered statue
28
A boy rides his his bicycle past the head of the recently discovered statueCredit: AP:Associated Press

The sun temple in Heliopolis was founded by Ramses II, lending weight to the likelihood the statue is of him, archaeologists say.

It was one of the largest temples in Egypt, almost double the size of Luxor’s Karnak, but was destroyed in Greco-Roman times.

Many of its obelisks were moved to Alexandria or to Europe and stones from the site were looted and used for building as Cairo developed.

Topics
machibet777.com