A team of German and Egyptian archaeologists made a colossal discovery on March 9th – literally and figuratively. Parts of a massive, 3000-year-old statue, which is believed to depict the legendary Pharaoh Ramses II, were found buried in the Cairo slum of Matariya. The findings tell an ancient story of the world’s origins, and could start a new chapter for Egypt.

The recovered bust and head of the antique statue measure 8 meters in length and are made of quartzite. The upper part of a smaller statue, depicting Pharaoh Seti II (Ramses II’s grandson), and pieces of an obelisk bearing hieroglyphics were also excavated. Experts have already begun restoring the artifacts, which will later be displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum set to open in 2018.

Ramses II is often considered to have been the greatest Pharaoh to ever rule the Egyptian Empire, and he believed that the world was created in Heliopolis, modern-day Matariya. This latest unearthing of history could help to jump-start the Egyptian tourism industry, which has suffered greatly over the last 6 years due to political unrest and terror attacks.

More info: Reuters

Cairo slums have been holding an amazing piece of Egyptian history  for about 3000 years

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/ Reuters

The statue, believed to depict the legendary Pharaoh Ramses II, measure 8 meters long, and was submerged in ground water

Image credits: AFP

Ramses II is widely considered to have been Ancient Egypt’s greatest Pharaoh, and was a renowned military leader

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuter

A partial statue of Pharaoh Seti II, Ramses II’s grandson, and pieces of an obelisk were also recovered from the site

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuter

Ramses II believed that the world was created in Heliopolis, now known as Matariya, the slum where this statue was found

Image credits: Xinhua/ Rex

These monumental findings were unearthed by a team of German and Egyptian archaeologists, and are currently being restored

Image credits: Khaled Elfiqi/ EPA

Locals were just as amazed by the artifacts as those who found them, and gathered around to take photos of them

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/ Reuters

Once the statues are ready, they will be displayed in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, set to open in 2018

Image credits: Xinhua/ Rex

This could help to jump-start Egyptian tourism, which has suffered over the last 6 years due to political unrest and terrorist attacks

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuter

Matariya is believed to be the site of the Ancient Egyptian sun temples, which were built to worship Ra, the god of sun

Image credits: Khaled Elfiqi/ EPA

Other ruins of Heliopolis were previously found in the Northern regions of Cairo, making this statue extremely likely to be Ramses II

Image credits: Xinhua/ Rex

The sun temples were purportedly double the size of Luxor’s Karnak, but were destroyed during Greco-Roman times

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/ Reuters

The unearthing of these statues will hopefully tell us even more about the life of Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, including Ramses the Great

Image credits: Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuter

Watch this incredible footage of the excavation from The Guardian:

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