The upper part of a giant statue of Pharaoh Ramses II discovered in Egypt

The upper part of the giant statue of Pharaoh Ramses II was discovered in the Egyptian province of El Minya, 300 km south of Cairo. This was announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt.

The torso of the ruler from the XIX dynasty was found during archaeological excavations in the town of El Ashmunein. According to Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the upper segment extracted from under the sand appears to be a continuation of the lower part of the statue discovered by German archaeologist Gunther Roeder in 1930.

The limestone fragment of the monument reaches a height of 3.8 meters, and together with the discovery of a century ago, the colossus can exceed seven meters in height. Ramses II's head is decorated with a royal headdress in the form of a double crown topped with an image of a royal cobra. In addition, on the back of the statue, scientists were able to read hieroglyphic inscriptions glorifying the power of the pharaoh.

Now archaeologists have to work on cleaning, strengthening and lifting the ancient artifact, which will later be joined together with its lower part.

Archaeological surveys in El Ashmunein have been conducted since last year. Scientists suggest that during the New Kingdom there was an important center for religious worship. Earlier, granite columns of an ancient temple were found in the area.

Near the territory of the modern village of El-Ashmunein in ancient times there was the city of Shmunu (Hemnu) or the "City of Eight" after the eight original creator gods worshipped there. In Greek and Roman times, its name was Hellenized to Hermopolis Magna ("The Great City of Hermes"), of which only majestic ruins have survived to this day.

Ramses II, who ruled in 1279-1213 BC, is considered one of the most powerful and famous pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.