This is the moment archaeologists unearthed a colossal 3,000-year-old statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh from a slum in Cairo. It is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made.
Archaeologists were present in the Souq al-Khamis district of Cairo, Egypt, to witness the excavation of an ancient Pharaoh statue. Cranes were used to lift the 3-ton statue out of the impoverished neighborhood. The statue is believed to depict Pharaoh Ramses II.
This is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made. The statue was found near the now-ruined temple that once housed the worship of Pharaoh Ramses II. This site was once home to the ancient city of Heliopolis thousands of years ago.
The statue is no longer intact, but is estimated to have once been about 8 meters tall, depicting Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The head and upper torso of the statue were excavated last Thursday.
In fact, alongside the colossal statue depicting Pharaoh Ramses II, archaeologists also found several fragments of a life-sized statue depicting the Egyptian Pharaoh Seti II – who ruled in the 12th century BC and was the grandson of Pharaoh Ramses II. The discovery of these two statues highlights the importance of the ancient city of Heliopolis.
In the history of ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Ramses II was known as a leading and powerful monarch who led his army to explore and expand the territory of the ancient Egyptian empire. He ruled Egypt from 1279-1213 BC.
Archaeologists find statue of Pharaoh Ramses II in a slum in Cairo
The slum where the ancient Pharaoh statue was found was once located within the ancient city of Heliopolis, a name meaning “city of the sun” in ancient Egyptian, famous for its temples dedicated to the sun god. Heliopolis is located in the northeast of the larger city of Cairo today.
