Granite Head of Ramses II Found

Today, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities announced the finding of a gigantic granite head of Pharaoh Ramses II. Ramses II, "or Ramses the Great, came to power at the age of 25. He is most renowned for building great monuments and warring with the Hittites for 16 years. He had 100 sons and eight 'principle wives.' He may have been the pharaoh of the Exodus. He ruled for 67 years before dying when he was 92" (History Compendium). Check out the article below.

Egypt unearths granite head of Ramses II

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Egypt's antiquities council says that archaeologists have unearthed a 3,000-year-old red granite head believed to portray the 19th Dynasty pharaoh Ramses II.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities says the discovery was made recently at Tell Basta, about 50 miles northeast of Cairo.

The council's statement Thursday says the 30-inch high head belonged to a colossal statue of Ramses II that once stood in the area. Its nose is broken and the beard that was once attached to the king's chin is missing.

The site at Tell Basta was dedicated to the cat-goddess Bastet and was an important center from the Old Kingdom until the end of the Roman Period. Archeologists are still digging on the location for the rest of the statue.