The Statue of Ramses II at the Grand Egyptian Museum

The Statue of Ramses II standing at the entrance atrium of the Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the most arresting sights in all of Egypt. It greets visitors before they've even reached the galleries, rising roughly 11 meters tall and weighing around 83 tons of red granite. This is not a reproduction. It is the original statue, quarried from Aswan and carved more than 3,200 years ago, and it now anchors the most expensive museum ever built on the African continent.

If you're making the trip out along the Alexandria Desert Road toward Giza, this statue alone justifies stopping.

Why This Statue Matters

Ramses II ruled Egypt for roughly 66 years, longer than almost any pharaoh in recorded history. His building program was extraordinary, and his image was reproduced across temples from Abu Simbel in the south to the Delta in the north. But this particular statue, originally discovered in 1820 in Mit Rahina (ancient Memphis), carries unusual historical weight. It lay on its side in the open air for decades, exposed to groundwater and traffic vibration from a nearby road, before a major relocation effort moved it to Tahrir Square in Cairo in 1955.

It stood in Tahrir Square for nearly 50 years, slowly deteriorating from exhaust fumes and humidity. The decision to move it again, this time to the Grand Egyptian Museum, was part of a broader effort to finally give it a controlled environment. The 2006 relocation to GEM was an engineering operation that drew international attention.

The statue now stands in a purpose-built atrium designed around it, lit from above through a sloping glass facade. The building came to the statue, not the other way around.

Quick Facts

• Height: approximately 11 meters
• Weight: approximately 83 tons
• Material: red Aswan granite
• Age: over 3,200 years old, dating to the reign of Ramses II (circa 1279 to 1213 BCE)
• Originally found at: Mit Rahina, the site of ancient Memphis
• Previously located: Tahrir Square, Cairo, from 1955 until 2006
• Current location: Grand Egyptian Museum atrium, Giza
• Admission: included with Grand Egyptian Museum general admission ticket

Getting There

The Grand Egyptian Museum sits on the Alexandria Desert Road (also called Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road) in Giza, roughly 2 kilometers from the Giza Plateau. From central Cairo, you're looking at a drive of about 40 minutes depending on traffic, which in Cairo is never a safe assumption. Ride-hailing apps work well here and are typically the most straightforward option for visitors without a car.

There is a large dedicated parking area at GEM if you're arriving by private vehicle or tour bus. Most organized tours to the Pyramids now include a GEM stop, so if you've booked a day tour in Giza, check whether this statue is already on your itinerary.

The nearest major landmark is the Giza Pyramid Complex, which is close enough that you can reasonably visit both in a single day if you start early.

The Layout and Experience

You encounter the statue almost immediately after passing through the main entrance. The atrium it occupies is the visual centerpiece of the museum's architecture, designed by the Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects. The sloping triangular glass roof floods the space with natural light at certain hours of the day, and the statue is positioned so you see it from below as you ascend the grand staircase, which adds to the sense of scale.

The effect is deliberate and it works. Walking up toward Ramses II while the light shifts around him is one of those museum moments that feels genuinely theatrical without being cheap about it.

The surrounding walls of the staircase are lined with reliefs and inscriptions, contextualizing the statue within Egyptian history as you climb. You're not just looking at one object in isolation. The whole ascent is designed as an introduction to ancient Egypt before you enter the main galleries.

History and Background

The statue was discovered in 1820 by the Italian explorer Giovanni Caviglia near the ruins of Memphis. At the time, Memphis was the ancient capital of Lower Egypt and one of the most important cities in the ancient world. The statue depicts Ramses II in a striding pose, and despite millennia underground, the carving retains extraordinary detail in the face and headdress.

Its modern history is almost as layered as its ancient one. The move to Tahrir Square in 1955 was partly symbolic, placing one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs at the center of its modern capital during a period of intense national pride following the revolution of 1952. But Tahrir Square was never a suitable home for a granite statue that old. Pollution, vibration from traffic, and rising humidity around the square all contributed to visible deterioration over the decades.

The 2006 move to Giza was carried out with significant international technical support and took months of planning. Engineers had to essentially cradle the statue in a custom steel frame before transporting it on a specialized low-loader vehicle. The GEM atrium was then built to accommodate its exact dimensions.

Best Time to Visit

Morning visits, particularly on weekdays, tend to be quieter. The atrium gets busy in the late morning as tour groups arrive from the Pyramids, so arriving when the museum opens gives you the best chance of spending a few undistracted minutes with the statue before the crowds build.

The natural light through the glass roof is most dramatic in the morning as well, when the sun angle catches the red granite and brings out the warm tones of the Aswan stone. By afternoon the light flattens somewhat, though the statue remains impressive at any hour.

Avoid Egyptian national holidays if you can. GEM draws enormous domestic visitor numbers on holidays, and the atrium can become extremely crowded.

Photography Tips

The statue is tall enough that fitting it into a single frame requires stepping back considerably. The wide base of the staircase gives you the most room. A wide-angle lens or the ultra-wide mode on a smartphone will help, but watch for distortion at the edges.

Shooting from the upper levels of the staircase gives you a head-on perspective at face level, which is striking. Shooting from the base looking up emphasizes scale but can lose the facial detail.

The glass roof creates mixed lighting conditions depending on time of day, so if you're shooting with a camera rather than a phone, experimenting with exposure compensation will help. Most days the light is bright enough that you don't need flash, and flash would be ineffective at this distance anyway.

Combining with Nearby Attractions

The Giza Pyramid Complex is the obvious pairing, and most visitors do both in a single day. The standard approach is to arrive at the Pyramids early when it's cooler and less crowded, then head to GEM in the late morning or early afternoon. The museum has a restaurant and cafe on site, so you can break for lunch before exploring the galleries.

The full GEM collection is vast. The Tutankhamun galleries alone contain thousands of objects. If you want to do justice to both the Pyramids and the museum, consider splitting them across two days rather than rushing.

The Solar Boat Museum, located on the Giza Plateau near the Great Pyramid, is a smaller but fascinating stop if you have time. It houses one of the oldest intact wooden boats ever found, dating to around 2500 BCE.

Practical Tips

• Book GEM tickets in advance online when possible. Walk-up queues can be long, especially on weekends.
• The museum is large and involves a lot of walking. Comfortable shoes matter more here than at almost any other site in Giza.
• Photography of the statue is generally permitted in the atrium. Confirm current rules at the entrance desk, as policies in Egyptian museums can vary.
• The atrium is air-conditioned, which is a genuine relief if you've come from the Pyramids in summer heat.
• Audio guides and guided tours are available at the museum and add significant context to the statue and surrounding inscriptions.
• Bags go through security screening at the entrance. Allow extra time if you're carrying a large camera bag.

FAQ

Is the Statue of Ramses II the first thing you see at GEM?

Essentially yes. After passing through security and entering the main building, the atrium with the statue is the first major space you encounter. It's impossible to miss.

Is this the same statue that was in Tahrir Square?

Yes. The statue was moved from Tahrir Square to the Grand Egyptian Museum site in 2006 as part of the museum's construction process.

Do I need a separate ticket to see the statue?

No. The statue is in the main atrium and is included with standard GEM admission. You do not need a special ticket.

How long should I plan to spend at GEM overall?

The museum is large enough to occupy a full day if you explore the major galleries. Most visitors spend at least three to four hours. If you're combining it with a Pyramids visit, budget your energy accordingly.

Is the statue well-preserved?

Remarkably so, given its age and history. The face and headdress retain fine detail. There is some damage, particularly to the lower portions, but the overall condition is considered good by archaeologists, especially compared to its deteriorating state during the Tahrir Square years.