This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 155
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A colossal statue of Ramesses II has been restored and re-erected in its original position by the Egyptian-American team working at Ashmunein (Hermopolis), in Minya. The limestone statue measures approximately 6.7 metres in height, and weighs over 40 tons. It is one of two statues that stood in front of the northern entrance of the Temple of Thoth. The upper part of the statue was discovered in February 2024, and found to match a base unearthed in 1930. Restoration was carried out in situ, taking the team more than a year. There are now plans to begin a secondary excavation phase in the north part of the temple to locate the top part of the corresponding statue.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, unless otherwise stated
