Homeowner's Clue Leads to Massive Egyptian Discovery

The discovery of an unusual stone in an Egyptian yard led archaeologists to two colossal royal statues, believed to depict the pharaoh Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. A homeowner in Behebat al-Hijara village in the Gharbia Governorate of Egypt's Nile Delta first alerted archaeologists to a stone with inscriptions, which turned out to be an ancient artifact, People reports. A major excavation later revealed fragments of two royal statues. The head of one is more than 5 feet long and depicts Ramses II with a double crown, symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Experts say the full statue would've originally stood some 28 feet tall.

The head and main section of a second statue, stretching nearly 8 feet long without its base and legs, were also discovered, with archaeologists suspecting another depiction of Ramses II, this time seen in a royal striped headdress. The artifacts were found near a block of pink granite that bears two of Ramses II's royal titles, translating to "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" and "Son of Ra," according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Work at the site is ongoing. Officials thanked the homeowner for quickly alerting authorities to the find and on Wednesday awarded him and his wife an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, per Anadolu Agency.