A Fragmentary Statue of Ramesses II with a Scarab on the Head

The red granite fragmentary bust (Egyptian Museum in Cairo – CG 38104, JE 27856), coming from the Temple of Ptah in Memphis, is believed to be part of a statue of Ramesses II. However, owing to the fact that the fragment is unepigraphic and much eroded, this identification has to remain a hypothetical one. A detailed examination of iconographical and stylistic features of the statue leads the author to believe that the statue either represented Ramesses II or had been usurped by one of his successors.