Colossi of Memnon

The two stone statues stand 18 meters tall, representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated with his hands resting on his knees, facing toward the Nile River.

Created around 1350 BCE, these monuments marked the entrance to Amenhotep III's memorial temple, which stretched across 35 hectares of the Theban Necropolis.

The northern statue earned its name after Greeks connected it to Memnon, as it produced sounds at sunrise following earthquake damage in 27 BCE.

Located on the west bank of Luxor, these statues remain accessible throughout the year and feature inscriptions in Greek and Latin from ancient visitors.

Each statue weighs 700 tons and was carved from single blocks of quartzite transported 675 kilometers from quarries near modern-day Cairo.

Location: Thebes

Elevation above the sea: 79 m

Height: 18 m

Made from material: quartzite

GPS coordinates: 25.72056,32.61056

Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:20