An Egyptian farmer tending to his cucumbers stumbled upon an ancient stone that led archaeologists to a much bigger discovery.
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that → tend → discovery
They found the remains of two colossal statues believed to depict Ramses II, the pharaoh some scholars believe may have confronted Moses in the biblical Book of Exodus.
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scholars → find → Exodus
The finds were announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities earlier this month.
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finds → announce → Tourism
The farmer found the inscribed stone while working in a cucumber greenhouse on his property in the village of Behbeit El-Hagar, according to Egyptian news outlet Youm7.
The man then alerted local archaeological authorities, who inspected the site and uncovered the remains of two statues during subsequent excavations, ministry officials said.
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officials → find → excavations
"One of the statues has been identified as depicting King Ramses II, while the other is also believed to represent the same pharaoh," the translated statement read.
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statement → identify → pharaoh
"The mission additionally discovered a pink granite block bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions that include several of the king's royal titles.
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that → discover → titles
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Ramses II, who was born in 1303 B.C., was among the most powerful and influential pharaohs of Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom period.
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who → bear → period
Some scholars have suggested that Ramses II was the pharaoh described in the Book of Exodus, although the Old Testament does not identify the ruler by name.
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Testament → suggest → name
In the biblical account, the pharaoh refuses Moses' demands to free the Israelites, leading to a series of devastating plagues.
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pharaoh → refuse → plagues
Ramses II died in 1213 B.C.
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II → die → B.C.
The first statue features a colossal head of Ramses II measuring more than 5 feet tall, officials said.
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officials → feature → II
The pharaoh is depicted wearing a double crown, symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, while an inscription on the statue's back pillar bears one of his royal names.
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inscription → depict → names
Archaeologists estimate the original statue, including its base, may have stood nearly 28 feet tall.
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statue → estimate → base
The second statue, also believed to depict Ramses II, measures nearly 8 feet long and is missing its legs and base.
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statue → believe → legs
"The statue's head was also uncovered, with its facial features still clearly visible and well-preserved," officials said of the second statue.
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officials → uncover → statue
"These features closely resemble those of the first statue.
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features → resemble → statue
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Excavations and archaeological studies at the site are ongoing, officials added.
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officials → add → site
"These investigations are expected to help researchers develop a clearer understanding of the two statues, the area's history and its architectural development during ancient Egyptian times," the statement concluded.
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statement → expect → times
The discovery is the latest in a series of archaeological finds shedding new light on the ancient Egyptian ruler.
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discovery → shed → ruler
In a similar discovery, archaeologists in Egypt unearthed a massive statue believed to depict King Ramses II at a Nile Delta site northeast of Cairo earlier this year.
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archaeologists → unearth → Cairo
Last year, Fox News Digital spoke with Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist who identified ancient propaganda praising Ramses II on a 3,300-year-old obelisk in Paris' Place de la Concorde.
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who → speak → Concorde
The Aporia
