Ramses II cartouche found at the largest fortified city in Sinai

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister State of Antiquities, announced the discovery of the foundations and the ruins of gates remaining of one of the castles at Tell Habua (The old Tharw, as mentioned in the inscriptions of Pharaoh Seti I at Karnak, describing the road of Horus), three kilometres northeast of Qantara East in North Sinai.

Parts of octagonal limestone column of a 1 meter height and 28cm diameter bearing Ramses II cartouche with his name and titles in scripted including The beloved of Amon, Horus of the two horizons, Egypt’s protector and conqueror of the foreign countries.

The minister referred that the discovery was made by the Ministry mission and contributed to by the newly recruited graduates during their training of field work within the ministry’s plan to transfer expertise to them.           

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim said that a plan to manage the site of Tell Habua and open it to local and international tourism as it is considered one of the important sites in Sinai as the largest fortified city of the New Kingdom on the Horus Road which was the main trade and military route from Egypt to Palestine.

 

Meanwhile, The German Egyptian mission directed by Dr. Eva Lange working at the site of Tell Basta in Sharkia (co-operation between Egypt Exploration Society/ University of Göttingen and MSA) has found a pink granite statue of Ramses II of 247cm height, 200cm width and 92cm depth. 

The mission also found mud bricks structures dated back to late period at the Southern East of the temple entrance in Tell Basta.

 

Adel Hussein, Director of the Lower Egypt and Sinai antiquities, said that the statue was found in layers of rudiment date back to Roman era. The statue represents Ramses II in the middle of Goddess Bastet and God Atom (Atum). On the back of the statue, there are remains of three columns of hollow inscriptions and in between them Ramses II cartouches. The statue was moved from the site to the Open Air Museum in Tell Basta.    

More on the mission’s work can be found here or here

Amenhotep III statue found on west bank,Luxor

Minister of Culture announced that the SCA team working at the north west of Amenhotep III temple on west bank, Luxor in the area called Kom El Hetan,has found the upper part of a double granite statue of Amenhotep III (1410-1372 B.C). Dr. Zahi Hawass the head of the mission said that the statue represent Amenhotep III sitting on his throne next to the Theban God, Amon.

Hawass believes that this statue is one of the most magnificent royal sculptures that were found recently when it comes to the attention to details and accuracy of the sculptor. Also Zahi refers that Pharaoh wearing the double crown for upper and Lower Egypt. It is known that Amenhotep III has many statues represents him with different gods and goddesses like Bastet and Sobek (currently on display at Luxor Museum which was found about 20 years ago).
Dr. Zahi Hawass said “It may refer to another cache for Amenhotep III statues nearby”
The part that was found of the statue measures 130 cm high and 95 cm wide and work is going on to uncover more parts which is expected to be around 3 meters tall when completed.