The Egyptian Museum in Cairo has completed extensive restoration work and the relocation of a basalt stele belonging to Ramesses II, according to a recent announcement by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, is widely believed by scholars to be the pharaoh featured in the biblical narrative of the Exodus.
Crafted from black basalt, the monument measures roughly 240 centimeters in length and 110 centimeters in width. Originating from the New Kingdom period (circa 1570 to circa 1069 BCE), the stele has been a part of the museum’s collection for more than a hundred years.
According to Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the basalt stele was originally discovered in two separate fragments and had previously undergone conservation to join the pieces together.
Dr. Ali Abdel Halim, the museum’s director-general, explained that the stele’s relocation and restoration are part of a new display initiative. It is now positioned between two other stelae depicting the pharaoh Ramesses II.
Museum Rejects Claims of Cement Being Used in Stele’s Restoration
As part of the current restoration and relocation process, the team removed the older materials from a previous conservation effort, as well as the wooden panel that supported the artifact.
The restoration team carefully treated the joints holding the fragments together. The stele has since been installed in a free-standing display, illuminated by new panoramic lighting designed to highlight its intricate details.
Furthermore, Halim addressed circulating social media rumors regarding the use of cement, clarifying that no cement was utilized at any stage of the conservation process.
The photos online, he said, were taken while the restoration work was ongoing, and therefore “do not reflect its final condition” now that the work has been completed.
Ramesses II Inscription in Sinai Points to Egypt’s Lost City of Mesn
In separate archaeological news, excavations along the historic Way of Horus military route—leading from Egypt into ancient Canaan—uncovered a large, inscribed sandstone lintel that had been broken into two pieces.
The artifact was discovered at the Tell Abu Saifi archaeological site in Qantara East, located in Egypt’s Ismailia Governorate along the eastern border of the Sinai Peninsula.
Engraved on three sides of the lintel are the royal titles of Ramesses II (“Ramesses the Great”), a figure widely associated with the biblical Exodus narrative.
However, it was the second inscription that drew significant attention, referencing restoration work on a statue dedicated to the deity “Horus, Lord of the City of Mesn.”
Dr. Hisham Hussein, head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt and Sinai and director of the archaeological mission, described the inscription as “highly significant evidence” for identifying the historical site.
Despite the significance of the discovery, Dr. Leithy emphasized that ongoing excavations and further research are required to gather additional evidence and conclusively confirm the site’s historical identity.
Also Read
- The $400,000 Retirement Community Entrance Fee: Why Prepaid Medical Care Is Tax-Deductible Before You Move In
- Fighter jet crashes at air show, killing 2 pilots with thousands of spectators watching
- Japan Innovated ‘Shark Tank’ Format—Time to Revive the Concept
- How Native Australian Animals Are Seeking Shelter in Homes as Habitat Loss Grows
