At the Ramesseum lies the fallen colossus of Ramesses II, carved from a single block of red granite. The surviving upper body is about 11 metres (36 feet) tall, while reconstructions of the complete colossus put its original height at roughly 17–18 metres (56–59 feet); its estimated weight is about 1,000 tons. The detached head lies approximately 20 metres (65 feet) from the body, and the monument is broken into numerous fragments. T-shaped stone-lifting clamps remain visible. The video argues that rougher later repairs show a loss of technical knowledge after the original work; that is the presenter's interpretation, not an established archaeological finding.
Ramesseum's fallen Ramesses II colossus is a monumental red-granite statue
EgyptGeneral
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Key facts
- The fallen colossus at the Ramesseum depicts Ramesses II and is carved from a single block of red granite.
- The surviving upper body is about 11 m (36 ft) tall; reconstructions of the complete colossus put its original height at roughly 17–18 m (56–59 ft), and its weight is estimated at about 1,000 tons.
- The detached head lies about 20 m (65 ft) from the body, not 75 ft.
- The monument is broken into many fragments, including the head, torso, arms and feet.
- T-shaped stone-lifting clamps are visible on the blocks; the video cites them as evidence of the original builders' precision.
- The video argues that rougher later repairs indicate a loss of technical knowledge; this is the presenter's interpretation, not an established archaeological conclusion.
Sources
Statue of Ramesses II - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Statue of Ramesses II is a colossal 3,200-year-old figure of Ramesses II, depicting him standing. It is 11 metres (36 ft) tall and made from red granite ...
The colossal statue of Ramesses II - British Museumbritishmuseum.org
Towering for 3000 years, the colossal statue of Ramesses II reveals how art, power and mortality met in ancient Egypt.
Egypt Holiday 2014: The Ramesseumwriteups.talesfromthetwolands.org
According to the Kent Weeks Luxor guide, it is the largest monolithic statue ever sculpted. The ear is over a metre long, and the shoulders are ...
Ancient Ramses II Statue Moved to Grand Egyptian Museumnationalgeographic.com
Weighing in at 83 tons and more than 30 feet high, the granite sculpture depicting the 19th-Dynasty pharaoh was transported in a custom-made ...
Ramesseum: Detail view, fragments of granite colossus - Curate NDcurate.nd.edu
This monolithic granite colossus, originally 18 m in height but now fragmentary, represents the enthroned King and is inscribed with the name 'Ramesses, the ...
The Missing Half of a Colossal Ramses II Statue Has Been ...news.artnet.com
The missing upper half of a massive statue of King Ramses II has finally been discovered in the south of Egypt. At over 12 feet tall, the ...
Ramesseum Temple: Facts, Statue, Papyrus & Photosegypttoursportal.com
The Ramesseum was used as the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramses the Great (1279 – 1213 BC) located in Upper Egypt in the Theban Necropolis on ...
Ramesseumen.wikipedia.org
In particular, one massive fallen statue at the Ramesseum is now inextricably linked with Shelley, because of the cartouche on its shoulder bearing Ramesses's ...
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