The statue discovered in the slums of Cairo, however, is Psametych, not Ramses

Fragments of an 8-meter statue were found last week in the mud near the ruins of a temple in the ancient city of Heliopolis. They are now suburbs of Cairo – Egypt’s capital. German-Egyptian combinedóarchaeologistów initially thought that the huge statue commemorated Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. In favor of this theory was the fact that the find was made near the Temple of the Sun in ancient Heliopolis, która was built thanks to the efforts of Ramses II.

However, researchers found an engraved inscription on the statue, whichóra contains one of the five names of Psametich I. This pharaoh is believed to be the founder of the 26th dynasty called the Saite. The period of his reign, according to researchers, was between 664-610 B.C. He was in power about 600 years after Ramses the Great. Experts say his reign brought stability to ancient Egypt after years of turmoil.

On one of the fragmentsóin those excavated from the mud read the word „Nebaa”. Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani, in an interview with the media, admitted that the only pharaoh whoóry had such a nickname was precisely Psametych I. However, in order to avoid another slip-up related to the figure depicted on the statue, he pointed out that scientists will be sure after a thorough examination of the find.

– This cannot be stated categorically, but it can be said with high probability that the statue depicts Psametych I. There is also the possibility, albeit a small one, that Psametych I used an existing statue of Ramses the Great to create his own monument – explained the head of the ministry of antiquities of Egypt.

So far, a bust, the lower part of the head, a fragment of the right ear, the right eye and a crown have been extracted from the mud. The bust alone weighs more than three tons. All the excavated fragments together weigh seven tons.

The minister of antiquities shortly after finding the statue said it was one of the most important discoveries in history. He added that if all the fragments of the statue can be excavated and put together, the colossus will face the head of theównym entrance to the Great Egyptian Museum, whichórego is scheduled to open next year.