The Colossi of Memnon
Scenic framing of the Colossi of Memnon with the Theban mountain visible in the background.
These colossal statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated on a throne and facing eastwards towards the Nile.
Each about 18 meters (60 feet) high and weighs approximately 720 tons. They were originally around 21 meters with the crown and carved from a single block of quartzite sandstone, quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar near modern-day Cairo and transported over 600 miles to the ancient site of Thebes at the entrance of his mortuary temple in Luxor. This journey was a significant feat of ancient engineering.
They originally served as guardians to the entrance of Amenhotep III's vast mortuary temple, although very little of the temple remains today being largely destroyed by an ancient earthquake.
The Colossi of Memnon have remarkably endured for millennia. One of the statues was famously known as the "Vocal Memnon" in antiquity due to a phenomenon where it was said to "sing" at sunrise, a sound attributed to the effects of temperature changes on the damaged stone.
The Colossi are a prominent historical landmark and a significant archaeological site on the west bank of Luxor, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture and beliefs.
The Colossi of Memnon
Scenic framing of the Colossi of Memnon with the Theban mountain visible in the background.
These colossal statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated on a throne and facing eastwards towards the Nile.
Each about 18 meters (60 feet) high and weighs approximately 720 tons. They were originally around 21 meters with the crown and carved from a single block of quartzite sandstone, quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar near modern-day Cairo and transported over 600 miles to the ancient site of Thebes at the entrance of his mortuary temple in Luxor. This journey was a significant feat of ancient engineering.
They originally served as guardians to the entrance of Amenhotep III's vast mortuary temple, although very little of the temple remains today being largely destroyed by an ancient earthquake.
The Colossi of Memnon have remarkably endured for millennia. One of the statues was famously known as the "Vocal Memnon" in antiquity due to a phenomenon where it was said to "sing" at sunrise, a sound attributed to the effects of temperature changes on the damaged stone.
The Colossi are a prominent historical landmark and a significant archaeological site on the west bank of Luxor, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture and beliefs.