Kamal Anwar
Colossi of Memnon, Luxor, Egypt
2 gigantic quartzite statues guard the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III (18th dynasty) in the West Bank of present day Luxor. Today, there is little left of the temple other than the heavily damaged statues, which weigh approx. 700 tons each and stand 18m (60ft) high.
The Northern statue is of Amenhotep III with his mother, Mutemwiya.
The southern statue is of Amenhotep III with his wife, Tiy and one of his daughters.
The reference to Memnon is derived from the hero of the Trojan War. Memnon means "Ruler of the Dawn" and the name was given to the colossi because of the reported cry emitted from one of the colossi at dawn.
Colossi of Memnon, Luxor, Egypt
2 gigantic quartzite statues guard the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III (18th dynasty) in the West Bank of present day Luxor. Today, there is little left of the temple other than the heavily damaged statues, which weigh approx. 700 tons each and stand 18m (60ft) high.
The Northern statue is of Amenhotep III with his mother, Mutemwiya.
The southern statue is of Amenhotep III with his wife, Tiy and one of his daughters.
The reference to Memnon is derived from the hero of the Trojan War. Memnon means "Ruler of the Dawn" and the name was given to the colossi because of the reported cry emitted from one of the colossi at dawn.