Colossi of Memnon, Colossal statue in Thebes, Egypt
These twin guardians of quartzite in Thebes depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated with his hands resting on his knees. Each figure measures 18 meters in height and faces east across the Nile valley, while smaller relief carvings of royal consorts stand beside the thrones.
Built around 1350 BCE, these monuments served as entrance guardians to the now-vanished mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. The earthquake that damaged the northern colossus in 27 BCE transformed it into an oracle until Roman repairs in the 3rd century CE silenced the sounds.
Greek travelers linked the northern colossus to the mythical hero Memnon after an earthquake in 27 BCE caused cracks in the stone. At sunrise, these cracks produced sounds that drew visitors from across the Roman Empire, who carved inscriptions in their own languages.
The sculptures stand on the west bank of Luxor in an open area accessible year-round without entry fees. Early morning light offers the best conditions for photography and comfortable temperatures for visiting.
The northern colossus was rebuilt above the waist in five tiers of stone, a repair attributed to the emperor Septimius Severus. The blocks for this reconstruction may have come from Edfu, north of Aswan. The southern statue, by contrast, is carved from a single piece of stone.
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