Restoration of Rameses II statue completed at El-Ashmunein in Minya
Nevine El-Aref , Wednesday 11 Feb 2026
An Egyptian-American archaeological mission has completed the restoration and re-erection of a colossal statue of King Ramesses II at the ancient site of El-Ashmunein in Minya Governorate, authorities said.
The project follows the discovery of the statue's upper section in February 2024, nearly a century after the lower portion was first uncovered in 1930. The newly found section was restored and reinstalled atop the base, returning the monument to its original position at the northern entrance of the temple.
The limestone statue now stands about 6.7 metres tall and weighs more than 40 tonnes. It consists of four main elements: the statue's body, previously broken into two parts; a base made of three large stone blocks; and uninscribed foundation stones.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy stated that the restoration reflects Egypt's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage according to international scientific standards and described the project as an example of cooperation between Egyptian specialists and foreign missions. He added that the work enhances the archaeological significance of Minya and supports cultural tourism.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), added that the project demonstrates the expertise of Egyptian specialists in restoration and documentation. He said the SCA relies on modern scientific methods to conserve large monuments and ensure their preservation.
Mohamed Abdel Badei, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said the statue is one of two known examples located in the northern section of the temple at El-Ashmunein. It depicts Ramesses II seated and reflects the artistic style of the period.
The joint mission has been working at El-Ashmunein since 2023 under the leadership of Bassem Gehad of the SCA and Yvona Trnka of the University of Colorado.
Gehad said the upper section of the statue, measuring about 3.7 metres in height and weighing around 12 tonnes, was found buried beneath later historical layers. The team conducted digital documentation, structural assessments, and stone analysis to confirm that the two sections matched and to stabilise the statue's five-block foundation.
After approval from the Permanent Committee for Ancient Egyptian Antiquities, restoration work began in September 2025. The process included dismantling unstable elements, reinforcing and restoring the stone blocks, and reinstalling them in their original position based on technical documentation.
The restored statue marks the return of a major Ramesses II monument to its original setting at El-Ashmunein, one of Upper Egypt's key archaeological sites.
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