“Ramses II” Sparks Controversy in Egypt, Official Responds
Several Egyptian archaeology experts criticized the decision to keep a statue of King Ramses II on the facade of the Luxor Temple, citing concerns about its placement at this location and errors in its restoration process, according to their views. However, Ahmed Arabi, the director of the Luxor Temple, refuted these inaccurate narratives in an interview with “Sky News Arabia.”
Arabi addressed the criticisms directed at the Luxor Temple, stating, “Initially, I don’t understand the reason behind discussing the statue of Ramses II at this time. We restored it in 2019 after obtaining approval from the Permanent Committee of Egyptian Antiquities. It was presented to the Prime Minister, and we received praise upon completing our mission.”
Old Photos
Arabi emphasized that the circulated photos of the statue on social media are outdated and do not depict the full restoration process carried out by a group of specialized experts in the field. They worked for several months to achieve the most scientifically appropriate image of the statue.
According to Arabi, “The statue was originally scattered in various parts of the temple, and we aimed to assemble and preserve it through restoration operations.”
A committee from the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the American University of Chicago’s mission collaborated to restore the statue.
The team worked on collecting the scattered parts of the statue from the east, north, and west sides of the Luxor Temple.
“We shaped the final form of the statue using multiple similar plates and created the closest representation of it before it suffered damages in ancient times. Any empty spaces inside the statue that were not found were filled with removable restoration materials in case remains are discovered during ongoing excavations at the temple,” Arabi explained.
Scientific Evidence
Arabi clarified that the objections to the statue’s presence at the facade of the Luxor Temple, arguing that it stands in an Osirian posture (symbolizing death in ancient Egyptian culture), lack clear scientific evidence. He mentioned that statues with similar forms exist in many other temples, such as the second courtyard of the Karnak Temple.
Scientific Evidence
According to Arabi, “Inside the Luxor Temple, we have three panels illustrating the specific position of the main chamber in the site and confirming the existence of the statue in the same form since ancient times. One is located on the north side of the temple, the second is inside the mosque of Abu Al-Hajjaj Al-Aqsa, and the third is a dedicatory inscription in Ramses II Hall on the east side.”
Arabi invited all archaeology experts in Egypt to visit the Luxor Temple and examine these pieces of evidence, which debunk any inaccurate speculations. He stated that all opinions are welcomed, and if any genuine issues arise, they will be addressed promptly.
Arabi expressed sadness among the archaeology team at the Luxor Temple due to their significant efforts in showcasing Egyptian antiquities in their best state. He was inspired to write an official memorandum presented to the Supreme Council of Antiquities to refute all the criticisms directed at the statue of Ramses II.
The memorandum contains opinions from a group of renowned archaeology experts worldwide, including Christian Leblanc, a French archaeologist and head of the French-Egyptian mission at the Ramesseum Temple; Horst Suezian, head of the German-Egyptian mission working in Luxor; and Ray Johnson, director of the American mission from the University of Chicago.
