Monday, September 29, 2008

Discovery of pharaoh's head could lead archaeologists to Ramses II temple

Daily Mail Online

With photographs.

A huge 3,000 year-old red granite head has been unearthed in Cairo of one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs, archaeologists have revealed.

Egypt's antiquities council said they believed the broken statue found at Tell Basta, 50 miles northeast of Cairo was of Ramses II. They hope the discovery will lead them to a major temple of the pharaoh in the area.

The 30-inch high carving belonged to a colossal statue that once stood in the area. Its nose is broken and the beard that was once attached to the king's chin is missing.

Archaeologists are still digging on the location for the rest of the statue. A large statue of the daughter and wife of Ramses II, Meritamum was discovered on the site two years ago and re-erected.

The site was dedicated to the cat-goddess Bastet and was an important centre from the Old Kingdom until the end of the Roman Period.

See the above page for the full story.

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