In Pics: King Ramses II obelisk to be transferred to El Alamein City

CAIRO - 8 August 2019: The Egyptian government moved the obelisk of King Ramses II on Aug. 7 from Cairo to the new city of El Alamein on the northern Mediterranean coast amid tight security measures.

“In close cooperation between the Ministry of Antiquities and Ministry Housing and the Arab Contractors Company, and amid tight security measures by the Tourism and Antiquities Police, the new obelisk of King Ramses II, which was on display in Andalusia garden in Zamalek, arrived in El Alamein.” stated the Ministry of Antiquities in an official statement.

“The transfer decision came after the approval of the Permanent Committee of Egyptian Antiquities,” said Mostafa Waziri, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.


The obelisk of King Ramses II was moved on Aug. 7 from Cairo to the new city of El Alamein – press photo


“A team of archaeologists and restorers of the Ministry of Antiquities prepared a comprehensive report regarding the state of the obelisk prior to its transfer," clarified Waziri.

“A team of restorers from the ministry carried out the preliminary restoration work, reinforcing and covering weak parts with reinforced foam. The obelisk was also placed in an iron cage to ensure its stability with the use of anti-shock units during transport,” resumed Waziri.


The obelisk of King Ramses II was moved on Aug. 7 from Cairo to the new city of El Alamein – press photo


The secretary general of the Supreme Council of Culture pointed out that "the obelisk is one of the obelisks erected by King Ramses II to decorate his temple in the city of Barramso (Egypt’s Delta area). It was transferred to the city of San Haggar in Sharkia Governorate, before being transferred to the garden of Andalusia in Zamalek in 1956.”


The obelisk of King Ramses II was moved on Aug. 7 from Cairo to the new city of El Alamein – press photo


The obelisk is made of pink granite, weighs about 90 tons and is about 14 meters in height. Its four sides are decorated with inscriptions and titles of King Ramses II.

The new El Alamein City project is one of the ambitious economic projects of the Egyptian government. It is being built near the North Coast resorts to serve as a huge residential, and administrative city.


The obelisk of King Ramses II was moved on Aug. 7 from Cairo to the new city of El Alamein – press photo