(AP Photo/Amr Nabil). A drone hovers as a statue of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II is relocated at the Grand Egyptian Museum near the great Pyramids, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The museum is scheduled to open later this year. Arabic at top r...

(AP Photo/Amr Nabil). A giant statue of pharaoh Ramses II arrives at the at the atrium of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The museum is scheduled to open later this year. Arabic reads, "Long live Egypt."

(AP Photo/Amr Nabil). A man poses for a selfie with a statue of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II as it is relocated at the Grand Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The museum is scheduled to open later this year.

(AP Photo/Amr Nabil). A statue of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II is surrounded by honor guards as it is relocated at the Grand Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The museum is scheduled to open later this year.

CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's Antiquities Ministry says it has placed the ancient colossus of famed pharaoh Ramses II at the entrance of a museum under construction near the country's famed pyramids outside the capital Cairo.

Thursday's placement of the colossus, which weighs over 80 tons and is some 12 meters (13 yards) high, occurred amid a great deal of fanfare and in the presence of Western and Egyptian officials.

The colossus, which dates back some 3,300 years, will be on display at the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which will house some of Egypt's most unique and precious ancient artefacts, including some belonging to famed boy King Tutankhamun.

Another 87 artifacts will be placed at the museum's entrance, Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani said. The first phase of the museum will be inaugurated later this year.

Egypt places colossus of Ramses II at new museum's entrance