Egypt retrieves King Ramses II head from Switzerland

 The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shared that they received a significant artifact on Sunday, and it’s the head of a statue portraying King Ramses II. The piece was handed over to the Egyptian embassy in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

In a statement, the ministry spoke of the collaborative efforts of various departments, including Tourism, Antiquities, and Foreign Affairs, along with other authorities, in tracking down and reclaiming the Ramses head. It had been unlawfully taken out of Egypt.

^{AlAhram (X / Twitter)}

This head is believed to be part of a larger statue representing King Ramses II, often known as “Ramesses the Great.” The Egyptian ambassador in Bern, Wael Gad, accepted the piece from the director of the Swiss Federal Cultural Office.

Transportation arrangements for the artifact back to Egypt will take place on Sunday, and it will be done by EgyptAir, with no cost involved.

^{Photo by antonio filigno (Pexels)}

Ramses II is an important figure in ancient Egyptian history, who ruled from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. He is celebrated as being one of the most dominant pharaohs of the Egyptian Empire. Known for his military power, Ramses II led many campaigns, expanding Egyptian control over regions such as the Levant and Canaan. He also took journeys to the south, reaching Nubia.

Known as Ozymendes in Greek records, Ramses II’s reign was marked by many construction projects, including cities, temples, and monuments. He established “Pi-Ramesses” in the Nile Delta as his capital, with Syria serving as an important center for his military campaigns at the time.