Egypt – New Ramses II Statues Unearthed in Nile Delta Village

Egypt – Archaeologists working in the village of Behbeit al-Hagar, Gharbiya Governorate, have uncovered significant royal artefacts from the reign of King Ramses II, shedding new light on the New Kingdom’s presence in the Nile Delta. According to Egypt Independent, the find was announced following excavations at the site.

Discovery of Statue Fragments

The excavation revealed the remains of two colossal royal statues. The primary artifact is a massive 1.6‑meter‑tall statue head depicting Ramses II wearing the Double Crown (Pschent), which symbolised the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Scholars estimate that the complete statue originally stood at approximately 8.5 metres in height. The rear pillar of the head bears inscriptions of the king’s Horus name, “Hor‑Ka‑Nakht Mery‑Maat.”

Experts also uncovered a 2.4‑metre‑tall torso and head of a second royal statue wearing the traditional Nemes headcloth. Although the base and lower limbs are missing, the facial features are well‑preserved and closely resemble those of the first colossal piece.

Inscriptions and Granite Block

In addition to the statues, a 1.3‑metre pink granite block was recovered. The block is inscribed with royal titles including “Nesu‑Bity” (King of Upper and Lower Egypt) and “Sa‑Re” (Son of Ra).

Tamer al‑Menshawy, an Egyptian antiquities researcher, confirmed that the discovery highlights the historical importance of Behbeit al‑Hagar—a site best known for its massive ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.

Historical Significance and Ongoing Work

The findings illustrate how Ramses II employed grand architecture and monumental statuary to assert political and religious authority throughout the Delta, extending his influence beyond the well‑known southern centres of Luxor and Abu Simbel.

Officials credited a local citizen who first reported finding the granite block to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, enabling archaeological teams to launch prompt documentation and rescue excavations.

Continued excavations at Behbeit al‑Hagar are expected to reveal the architectural context of how these royal monuments were integrated into the Delta’s temple complexes.