Who knows how many discoveries are just waiting to be had in Egypt. It is a land full of untold wonders and secrets buried beneath the sands. The country is still surrendering its secrets - and these range from ancient 3,000 lost capital cities like Dazzling Atem (just found in 2020), to pyramids (not all of them are big), to the world's oldest brewery, to the stunning Atlantis-like lost city of Heracleion (also called Thonis).
Egypt is a country that many people have mixed feelings about, but it is also a country with so much history that visitors can only scratch the surface. Egypt spans so many thousands of years of history and is like nowhere else. The Great Pyramids of Giza are only the tip of the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
What To Know Of The Great Pharaoh Ramses II
Another recent discovery is that of a 3,000-year-old statue of King Ramses II that was found buried under a Cairo slum. It has been hailed as one of the most important discoveries ever and is a statue of the Pharaoh who was arguably the most famous and greatest Pharaoh of Egypt. During his long reign, Egypt was considered to have been at the pinnacle of its power and glory.
- Lived: Ca 1303 to Ca 1213 BC
- Long Reign: Reigned For 66 Years
- Children: He Sired Over 100 Children
- Chief Queen: Nefertiti
- Temple of Abu Simbel: The Entrance has Four 60 Foot Tall Seated Statues of Ramses II
Ramses II enjoyed a very long reign and is famous for his many building projects - like the famous temple of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt that's guarded by four colossal statues of himself. So great was Ramses II that when he died nine other Pharaohs took on his name (a bit like "Caesar").
Today we have his mummy and the fun fact is he still needs a passport to travel out of the country. In 1974 his mummy was in need of preservation work because of a fungal infection. He was flown to Paris in a French military aircraft and was greeted by Garde Republicaine - according to a New York Times 1976 article. But to fly to France he needed a "passport."
The Massive Ramses II Statue Under A Cairo Slum
In 2017, it was reported that a massive 3,000-year-old statue of the pharaoh had been found under a slum in Cairo. It was found by archeologists from Germany and France (also included the input of the University of Leipzig) and measures some 26 feet (or 8 meters). It was found submerged in groundwater in an area of unfinished buildings and mud roads.
- Size: 26 Feet Or 8 Meters
- Antiquities Ministry: Hailed It As One of The Most Important Discoveries Ever
- Temple: Fun Next To Ramses II's Ancient Sun Temple
- Weight: 83 Tonnes
The statue was found buried near where Ramses II's temple once stood in the ancient city of Heliopolis. They also found part of a life-sized limestone statue of Pharaoh Seti II, Ramses II's grandson.
Where to See The Great Statue of Ramses II
In 2018 the BBC reported that the statue of Ramses II had been moved to its new home in the Grand Egyptian Museum. To transport the massive statue, a team of specialist army engineers and contractors transported on its 400 meters (1,300ft) journey from its storage area to its new home.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is regarded as one of the world's most important museums in ancient history and a must for anyone in Cairo. It first opened in 1902 and was purpose-built to house Egypt's many ancient treasures.
- Location: Tаhrir Sԛuаrе in Cairo
- Hоurѕ: 9аm-7рm Mоn-Wеd, to 9рm Sun & Thu, to 4рm Fri & Sat
- Priсе: Adult/ѕtudеnt LE120/60, аftеr 5.30рm Sun & Thu LE180/90, Royal Mummiеѕ
It is in this museum that one will find the treasures of another famous Pharaoh. See the iconic Tutаnkhаmun’ѕ mаѕk and other treasures.
Tiсkеtѕ & tоurѕ:
- Egурtiаn Muѕеum: $85.72
- Egурtiаn Museum in Cаirо: $36.60
- Hаlf dау Egyptian Muѕеum: $60.72
There are plenty of people offering guided tours of this impressive but often overwhelming museum. One can negotiate the price with them before entering (one may be able to bargain prices less than those listed above).
A trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum is a trip back in time that will bring many of one's childhood memories and impressions to life in a real-world context.