Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni said Tuesday that a mission of Cairo University Faculty of Archaeology operating in Saqqara area was able to unearth a big sarcophagus dating to the reign of King Ramses II (1279-1213 BC).

    "The sarcophagus, made of rosy granite and bears hieroglyphic signs and different titles of the deceased, belongs to an overseer of stables during the reign on Ramses II," said Hosni.

    Dr. Zahi Hawwas, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the mission found the sarcophagus inside a tomb unearthed in the 1980s by Dr. Sayyed Tawfiq, who led an archaeological team from Cairo university in Saqqara area.

    Ramses II was the third ruler during this period. He was born to Queen Tay and his father Sety I. He was given the throne at the age of about 20 and ruled for 67 years. This allowed him to be the second longest-ruling Pharaoh.

    Although Ramses II had a harem of wives, his special wife was Nefertari and it was presumed that he had over one hundred children with all his wives.

    Ramses II was a prolific ruler that fought to reclaim territory in Africa and Western Asia. The Hittites and Asia Minor were his main opponents or his main enemies.

    During his fifth year as Pharaoh, he led a campaign known as the Battle of Kadesh.

    Ramses II tried to keep the newly acquired territory, known today as Syria, but lost the battle along with one of his opponents the Hittites.

    Seen as a standstill, Ramses II pulled back and Kadesh remained with the Hittites once more.

    Later, a treaty was signed, territory was divided, and Ramses II agreed to marry the daughter of the Hittite King.