This limestone statue of pharaoh Ramesses II (1303–1213 BC), stands at an impressive height of approximately 69 feet. Originating from the New Kingdom period, it serves as a physical testament to the advanced architectural achievements during this time in ancient Egypt.
Created with a conventional yet detailed aesthetic, the statue exhibits skillful sculpting. The subject, Ramesses II, is represented with established royal attributes: a striped nemes headcloth, a prominent uraeus serpent signifying kingship and a carefully modelled false beard. The intricate facial features indicate a serene and authoritative presence.
The physical form of Ramesses II is captured in a traditional striding pose, portraying momentum and forward movement. The defined muscularity of the arms, each holding monarchy symbols — a heka (shepherd's crook) and a nekhakha (flail) — completes the representation of the pharaoh. The statue is further adorned by the shendyt kilt displaying engraved inscriptions on the belt buckle and upper kilt region. These hieroglyphs reiterate the titles and divinity of the pharaoh.
Said to have been a component of the Ramesseum, Ramesses II's mortuary temple within the Temple of Amun's complex, the statue served both religious rituals and reaffirmation of the pharaoh's authority and divine status.
