A man working on his land in northern Egypt discovered a stone covered in ancient Egyptian picture writing. After he informed the authorities, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sent a team to investigate. Excavations in the village of Behbeit Al-Hagar uncovered remains of two enormous statues. The village is known for its ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.
The larger statue represents Ramesses II, who ruled Egypt for 66 years. Its surviving head measures about 1.6 metres, suggesting that the complete statue probably stood around 8.5 metres tall. It shows the king wearing a double crown, a symbol of his rule over Upper and Lower Egypt. Part of a supporting pillar also carries one of his royal names.
The second statue, about 2.4 metres tall, probably also represents Ramesses II. It shows him wearing a striped royal headcloth. A nearby pink granite block bears inscriptions naming him. Earlier discoveries of building fragments with his name suggest that he carried out major construction work at the temple.
