EGYPT: Giant statue of pharaoh Ramses arrives at new grand Egyptian museum near the pyramids

Record ID: 644832

  • Title: EGYPT: Giant statue of pharaoh Ramses arrives at new grand Egyptian museum near the pyramids
  • Date: 25th August 2006
  • Summary: (BN10) CAIRO, EGYPT (AUGUST 25, 2006) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT TRUCKS CARRYING STATUE OF RAMSES IN METAL CARRIAGE APPROACHING THE SITE OF THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM CLOSE VIEW OF RAMSES STATUE AS IT APPROACHES THE SITE VIEW OF PYRAMIDS AND THE STATUE WIDE OF THE SITE BEFORE ARRIVAL OF STATUE STATUE APPROACHING SITE STATUE ENTERING SITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR ZAHI HAWASS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF EGYPTIAN SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES, SAYING: "I am happy and I feel great. The most important two things that I want to stress on is number one, if we make anything with plans and scientific studies, you can do it. I think that the movement of that statue proved many things for us. The second thing that I would like to say that I could not believe that thousands and thousands of people will stay up till the morning. This reminds me when I sent the robot inside the pyramids, all the Egyptians stayed up. Today is another glory day in our life." STATUE IN THE SITE WORKERS TAKING OFF THE METAL CARRIAGE. VIEW OF STATUE AS WORKERS TAKE OFF METAL CARRIAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DR. FAROUK HOSNI, EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE, SAYING: "As we can see that all the people was scared of the movement process and there is the statue in front of you, very simple and safe. It was something great and all the people celebrated although it was a feeling of homesick for them to them when the statue left them but it is something of great value that needs to be put in something of greater value. SIGN (OF THE SITE THE STATUE MOVED TO) OF THE NEW EGYPTIAN MUSEUM SAYING: THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,History
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ISYDH2GZWDR5FMZ0BXJ3NE5D
  • Story Text: After a 10-hour journey, the giant statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II has arrived at the site of the New Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids as it was moved by truck across the Nile.
    The statue that is probably at least 3,200 years old, was moved from a congested downtown square where it was damaged by exhaust fumes and other environmental hazards.
    People lined the streets to see the procession of the 83-tonnes colossus, surrounded by 1,500 soldiers.
    Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities was pleased with the result: "I am happy and I feel great. The most important two things that I want to stress on is number one, if we make anything with plans and scientific studies, you can do it. I think that the movement of that statue proved many things for us. "
    "The second things that I would like to say that I could not believe that thousands and thousands of people will stay up till the morning. This reminds me when I sent the robot inside the pyramids, all the Egyptian stayed up. Today is another glory day in our life," he added.
    The long anticipated transfer of the colossal statue of one of Egypt's greatest Pharaohs began at 1 a.m. in Cairo (local time), with trucks carrying the statue out of the square that bears its name.
    Engineers constructed a cage around the statue as two flatbed trucks carried it upright during the journey that took it across the Nile River.
    Dr. Farouk Hosni, Egyptian Minister of Culture said after the arrival of the statue, "as we can see that all the people was scared of the movement process and there is the statue in front of you, very simple and safe."
    "It was something great and all the people celebrated although it was a feeling of homesick for them to them when the statue left them but it is something of great value that needs to be put in something of greater value," he added.
    When the statue was originally moved from Memphis it was cut into six pieces to make it easier to transport. This time, however, it is being moved standing vertically, and in one piece.
    Ramses II, who died in 1237BC, was one of Ancient Egypt's most powerful rulers, having expanded the borders of Egypt's empire and built numerous temples and monuments during his 67-year reign.
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