Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry says a large statue discovered in a Cairo slum this month is likely not a depiction of Pharaoh Ramses II as first believed.
The statue is instead thought to be of King Psammetich I, who ruled from 664 to 610 BC and, if confirmed, would be the largest statue of the Late Period ever discovered.
Egyptian and German archaeologists found the statue near the ruins of Ramses II’s temple in the ancient city of Heliopolis.
It was initially hailed as among the most important discoveries to date but after examining pieces of the 8-meter statue, the Antiquities Ministry said its characteristics pointed to a different time.
