A chance discovery led to a major archaeological find in a village in the Sharqia Governorate during excavation work on a plot of land. This was done in preparation for the construction of a youth and sports center.
According to the Antiquities Department of Sharqia Governorate.
A double ancient statue, depicting two people, made of granite and weighing over 5 tons, was found at the “Tell Faroun” site in Ezbet El-Tell – Al-Husseiniya City.
This occurred during excavation work at the mound in preparation for its handover to the Youth and Sports Directorate in Al-Husayniya. The statue was then unearthed and delivered to the San El-Hagar archaeological site.
In addition, preparations are underway to move it from the site and examine it to discover information about it.
Several residents of the area confirmed that the statue was discovered during excavation work for youth and sports projects. The statue is made of granite and weighs over 5 tons.
Ministry of Tourism statement
In an official statement, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities officially announced the discovery of a huge statue missing its lower part, which included the legs and the base.
It is likely that it depicts King Ramses II.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, confirmed that this discovery is one of the important archaeological evidences that sheds light on aspects of religious and royal activity in the eastern Delta region.
It also contributes to a better understanding of the phenomenon of the relocation and reuse of royal statues during the New Kingdom. Furthermore, its importance is highlighted in the context of the connection between regional sites and major royal centers.
He explained that the discovered statue is remarkably large, as it is estimated to weigh between 5 and 6 tons and is about 2.20 meters long.
It is also in a relatively poor state of preservation.
Meanwhile, the remaining fragments exhibit artistic and proprietary characteristics that suggest it was part of a triad. Similar triads have been discovered at several archaeological sites in the Sharqia Governorate.
The head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Abdel-Badi, added that preliminary studies indicate the statue was moved in ancient times from the city of Pi-Ramesses to the Tell Faraoun site, formerly known as Imt. It was moved for reuse within a religious complex.
This reflects the religious and historical importance of the site throughout the ages.
The statue was immediately moved from within the temple complex at the site to the museum storage facility in the San El-Hagar area. This step was taken to pave the way for the commencement of meticulous and urgent restoration work.
This was done in accordance with the highest scientific standards followed in the maintenance and preservation of antiquities.
It is worth noting that last September, a stone tablet representing a new version of the famous Canopic Decree was unveiled. This decree was issued by King Ptolemy III in 238 BC, when the high priests of Canopus (east of Alexandria) convened to venerate and honor King Ptolemy III, his wife Berenice, and his daughter. The text of the decree was distributed to the major Egyptian temples.
It should also be noted that the Al-Husayniyah area is about 20 to 30 kilometers away from the city of San Al-Hajar, which is rich in distinctive artifacts.
These facts point to the treasures that are still buried in the region.
Dr. Metwally Saleh, the former Director General of the San El-Hagar archaeological area in Sharqia, pointed out that 90% of the area’s antiquities have not yet been uncovered, and that the area is rich in temples, tombs and archaeological treasures.