This 3,200-year-old recumbent statue of ancient Egypt's most influential pharaoh, Ramses II, lies in UNESCO World Heritage Site Memphis (the ancient capital of Lower Egypt, a half-hour drive from Cairo)  is of an intimidating size  - about 36 feet tall - and that’s without his legs. The remnants of Egyptian antiquity are often big -  overwhelming even - and powerful as well as being very old. And Ramses the Great, of all the pharaohs the longest reigning (67 years), most influential, most prolific builders of temples, served for 67 years and had 55 wives and 115 children.

Read more in Tripatini member Fyllis Hockman's post In Egypt, in Awe - of 6,000 Years of History.