3,000-Year-Old Colossus of Ramses II Journeying From One Memphis to Another

A 3,000-year-old colossus of the Pharaoh Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great, is on its way from ancient Memphis to Memphis, Tenn.

Antiquities experts in Meet Rahina, south of Cairo, are putting the final touches on restoration of the huge statue, which stands on the site of ancient Memphis, once the capital of Egypt.

The 60-ton, 21-foot granite statue was discovered here in 1961, broken into more than 40 pieces. It lay partly submerged in water until last November, when restoration began.

Valued by Egypt’s antiquities authority for insurance purposes at $1.5 million, the statue has been rebuilt at a cost of nearly $100,000. The Coca-Cola Co. was a major contributor.

Exhibition on U.S. Tour

The largest monument to leave Egypt in years, it is due to be shipped this month to Tennessee, where it will join nearly 70 pieces already touring the United States in an exhibition about Ramses the Great.

Now on display in Jacksonville, Fla., the show is to go on to Memphis, Tenn., in mid-April, where the Ramses II statue will be on display for 4 1/2 months. Later, the statue will travel to Denver.

The majestic statue depicts the king wearing the crown of Upper Egypt and striding forward, left foot first, in the traditional pose of ancient Egyptian male figures.

Ramses II, who is probably the Pharaoh of the exile referred to in the Old Testament, was one of ancient Egypt’s most fascinating kings.

Usurped Brother’s Throne

Part of the XX Dynasty, he usurped the throne from his brother in 1292 BC and reined for 67 years, until his death in 1225 BC.

He was known for his courage in battle, particularly during years of warfare with the Hittites, hostilities he finally concluded through a treaty and by wedding a Hittite princess.

Under his rule, Egypt was a vast kingdom that acquired unprecedented splendor and luxury, partly because of the increasing use of slavery.

He built many monuments, including the temple at Karnak and his mortuary, the Rameseum at Thebes, and the great rock temple of Abu Simbel.

Rebuilt in 3 Sections

Ramzey Naguib, who led the 23-man team that restored the statue, said that because the sculpture was fragmented, engineers decided to rebuild it in three sections for easier transport.

The sections will be transported on trailers to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, then by ship to Savannah, Ga., and by truck to Memphis, Naguib said.

“We have taken every measure and precaution to ensure its safety,” Ahmed Kadry, chairman of the antiquities authority, told a news conference.

James Broughton, executive director of the Tennessee exhibition, said that Lloyds of London was insuring the colossus, but he refused to give details of the coverage for security reasons.

$10 Million in Tickets

Kadry said that the Ramses exhibition was expected to take in $10 million in ticket sales during its North American tour, which will include Canada.

“All the money will be 100% dedicated to the cause of restoration of other Egyptian monuments,” Kadry said.

Memphis Mayor Richard Hackett said that 100,000 tickets had been sold for the Ramses exhibition, “the largest single tourist attraction in the history of our city.” He said he expected 500,000 visitors.

Kadry said the colossus will go to the Netherlands after the Memphis exhibition before being brought back to Cairo.