Ancient Tanis, Ramses II, and the Largest Stone Statue Ever Made..

TL;DR

The ancient city of Tanis in Egypt holds a rich history and is home to remarkable artifacts, including a potentially massive single-piece stone statue. However, the dating of objects based on hieroglyphs is problematic due to the practice of reclaiming and renaming artifacts by rulers like Ramses II.

Transcript

the ruin of the ancient city of tannis in lower egypt is i think one of the most interesting and enigmatic of historical sites it's been the seat of many unsolved riddles and mysteries of our past it has a history that stretches back millennia under its many names it's been kept on the fringes of culture throughout the ages once known as the city o... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤢 Tanis is an ancient city in Egypt that has been the seat of many unsolved mysteries and riddles.
• 👪 The city's history stretches back to various ancient civilizations, and it is home to remarkable artifacts and treasures.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Dating objects based solely on hieroglyphs is problematic due to the practice of reclaiming and renaming artifacts by ancient rulers.
• 👷 The massive single-piece stone statue discovered in Tanis suggests advanced construction techniques and challenges conventional notions of ancient capabilities.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who rediscovered Tanis, as portrayed in the Indiana Jones movies?

The location of Tanis was rediscovered in the 18th century, not by the Nazis as in the movies. The first scientific explorations at the site occurred during Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1798.

Q: Did Tanis house the Ark of the Covenant?

While there is no evidence to support this claim, it is possible that the Ark was kept at Elephantine Island temporarily. Tanis did yield a tremendous treasure horde in 1939, including golden funeral masks and statues.

Q: What evidence suggests that the dating of objects based on hieroglyphs is problematic?

The practice of reclaiming and renaming objects by ancient rulers like Ramses II has made it difficult to accurately date artifacts. Many objects at Tanis bear crude hieroglyphs overlaid on older inscriptions, often resulting in inaccurate dating.

Q: How large was the massive single-piece stone statue found in Tanis?

Based on the discovery of a foot fragment, the statue was estimated to be about 75 to 92 feet high, possibly weighing over 1,000 tons. It would have likely surpassed the size and weight of other famous ancient statues.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tanis is a historically significant and enigmatic ancient city in Egypt, known for its unsolved riddles and mysteries.

• The city has a long history, dating back to various ancient civilizations, including the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and the Hyksos people.

• Tanis has yielded impressive treasures and discoveries, rivaling the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, but its true origins and antiquity remain debated.