Scientific committee in Egypt recommends dismantling Ramesses II statue

An Egyptian scientific committee has advised investigating the removal of portions of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II situated in front of the Second Pylon at the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, according to an RT report. The committee's examination of the statue unveiled inconsistencies in the materials employed during the restoration, compared to the statue's authentic sections.

Furthermore, the committee proposed conducting laboratory tests on samples extracted from the statue's base—a part still in its original state—to ascertain if these match with the restoration blocks. Should the results not align, these restoration blocks would be considered of no genuine connection to the statue. The committee also noted discrepancies in the anatomical proportions of the restored section, which were found to surpass the statue's presumed natural dimensions.

Consequently, the committee suggested a scientific study to evaluate the possibility of detaching this section without harming the original part. Simultaneously, the committee directed archaeologists at the site to search for any missing fragments of the statue, such as the upper part of the crown and a portion of the leg, to confirm their authenticity.

If these original fragments are not located, an archaeological assessment will be performed to deduce their probable appearance and dimensions, followed by a review of the archaeological feasibility of reconstructing the statue, in line with international guidelines governing restoration work. The committee concluded that reconstructing the statue is not viable, and thus, the discovered archaeological fragments will be preserved and stored rather than utilized in a conjectural reconstruction of the statue.