Colossi of Memnon are two massive monumental stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1386-1353 BCE) from the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. They depict the seated king on a throne ornamented with imagery of his mother, his wife, the god Hapy, and other symbolic engravings. They are made of quartzite stones, which were quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar since 1350 B.C in Cairo then transported 675 km (420 mi) all the way to Luxor. They were built as guardians for Amenhotep’s mortuary complex in Luxor. This large complex was destroyed completely except for some remains because of the earthquakes and floods in Egypt.
They are located west of the Egyptian city, Luxor in Theban Necropolis, where the Colossi of Memnon is one of the most famous and important Luxor tourist attractions, that can’t be missed during your Egypt tours. The two statues are located about half a kilometer east of the Antiquities Inspectorate (the ticket office) on the main road leading to the west bank of the monument area.
Who is Memnon!
Memnon was a hero of the Trojan war. He was also the Ethiopian king who led his armies from Africa towards Asia to defend the beleaguered city. In the end, he was slain by Achilles. The two statues generally refer to the entire Theban Necropolis as the “Memnonium”; the name that is popular for more than 2000 years.
Origin of Colossi
The name colossi were associated with the statues because of the Greek, even the entire Theban Necropolis was referred to as the “Memnonium” and remained in common use for the past 2000 years till today. Colossi of Memnon symbolizes the rule of the king over Egypt. The three figures on the statues of Amenhotep III, his wife Tiye, and his mother Mutemwiya are all symbols of rebirth. They have withstood all the natural disasters that they have ever faced.
The Description of Colossi of Memnon
They are 18 meters high and each one of them weighs 720 tones. They are carved from single blocks of sandstone. They are two-seated king statues on a throne ornamented, representing the pharaoh wearing the royal headdress of the Nemes, protected by the divine cobra. The hands of the king are resting on his knees and he directs his face towards the east looking at the Nile River. There are two small figures carved into the front part of the statues that represent his wife Tiye and mother Mutemwiy. The two statues are very damaged since 27 BC but they remain symbols for the amazing Egyptian Civilization and culture.