Colossus of Ramses II

The massive limestone statue of Pharaoh Ramses II is 33 feet (10 m) long and that's without having any legs! Ramses II was the longest serving pharaoh in Ancient Egypt, reigning from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. The statue was found in 1820 by an Italian traveller, Giovanni Caviglia. It is another example of the supreme craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians which baffles artists and historians today.

It is housed in the Memphis Museum in a small village on the site of what was once Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt. There is not much to see aside from the Colossus and a few other sculptures. There are ongoing excavations in the area but to the untrained eye it just looks like digging in river mud.

Practical Info:

The Memphis Museum which houses the Colussus of Ramses II is in the modern town of Mit Rahina, south of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile. It is only about ten minutes away from Saqqara and the pyramid of Djoser so it is worth a quick detour to see but not a trip on its own. There is no public transport there from Cairo and the best way to get there is by guided tour or by hiring a private car.