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 One of the statues -
Colossi of Memnon by sue_stone
They were originally built to guard a temple, that no longer exists, and these days look quite magnificent standing alone by the side of the road. Each statue is seated and rests on a huge granite plinth.
There are a few other remains at the site, including two headless sphinxes.
You can't miss these huge statues, as they are on the main road, and it is easy to pull into the parking area for a quick look, and some photos of course!! Leave a Comment Directions: The Colossi of Memnon are situated about half a kilometre east of the Antiquities Inspectorate (the ticket office) on the main road to the West Bank monument area.Website: http://www.touregypt.net/collmem.htm
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 ~ Me at the Statues of
Memnon ~ by Heavens-Mirror |
Colossi of Memnon are two huge statues of Amenhotep III which were originally placed in front of the mortuary temple of the king.
The temple was destroyed throughout the centuries, but it is said that it was built of white sandstone, gold and silver.
The statues show Amenhotep seated on his throne with the two Nile gods of upper and lower Egypt uniting the two lands, at his sides.
It is also interesting to know that on the right of each statue appears a small figure of Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep III and on the left Queen Mutemua, his mother.
The Colossi are made of sandstone.
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 Colossi of Memnon by ATXtraveler
Ancient Egyptians called the southern of the two statues "Ruler of Rulers". Later travelers called them "Shammy and "Tammy", which may have been a corruption of the Arabic words for "left" and "right". Today they are known locally as "el-Colossat", or "es-Salamat". Leave a Comment
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These twin statues of Amenophis III, once adorned his funerary temple. The temple, however was salvaged for stones by Ramses II. The Colossi has been a tourist attraction since Roman times. It was believed in these times that the statues were of Memmon, a legendary Egyptian prince, who said to have fought at Troy hence the name which has stuck with the statues ever since. Leave a Comment Directions: West bank, thebes Acropolis
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 by rosegirl |
 Colossi of Memnon by clairegeordioLeave a Comment Directions: West Bank
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 The Colossi of Memnon by Shofja
All tourist's groups have here stop for some minutes - so, you can take photos!
These two gigantic statues (around 17m high) were cut from two massive granite blocks, brought from quarries near Cairo. And once they stood at the entrance gate of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Nowadays almost nothing remains about this temple of Amenhotep III.
Statues represents the pharaoh Amenhotep III (Dynasty XVIII).
There are very interesting story - after an earthquake in 27 BC, part of the northern colossus collapsed and from then on each morning at sunrise, the statue produced a strange musical sound. Ancient :-) Greek and Roman tourists :-) came to hear this sound, and gave statue the name of "Memnon" - a Trojan hero, the son of Eos and Titan, who sang to his mother each morning at daybreak. It's a legend, but in reality the sun heating up the stone produced this strange sound.
In the third century AD northern statue was repaired and the mysterious singing was never heard again.
But as a result of the legend the statues of Amenhotep III became known as the Colossi of Memnon.
There is no entrance charge or restrictions on photography. Leave a Comment
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 Colossi of Memnon by Jeca011
The Legend of Memnon
The Memnon legend was attached to the northern (right one) of the two statues by the Greeks. A fissure ran through the statue and when the ancient stone was warmed by the early morning rays of th sun it was heard to give an eerie moan. The Ancient Greeks thought that the statue represented King Memnon, and the sound was him greeting his mother Eos.
Unfortunately attempts were made to repair the statue by the Romans, and since this time the Colossi have been silent. Leave a Comment
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 Memnon Colossus by Myndo
The two colossal statues (they used to be 21m high, now without crown they are "only" 19m), are portraying the King Amenophis II (reigning around 1400 v.Chr.) and were protecting his death temple that was soon destroyed after his death.
The Greeks that visited the country only saw the two statues and believed they showed Memnon, the King of Afghanistan from the Trojan War.
The two colossi became one of the earliest tourist attractions when -after an earthquake - the northern one of them began to make sounds in the morning.
It was said to be the voice of Memnon greeting his mother, the godess of morning Eos.
Actually it was rather the air that expanded in the stone when the first sunlight warmed it. But the effect was really amazing and many historicans (including Herodot) wrote about it.
In the early 3rd century a.c. the roman Emperor Severus Septimus visited the statues also. He was very impressed and ordered the broken statues to be restored.
-from that day on, the Colossus was silent.
If you have the time, have a look at the lower part of the northern statue (the right one if you stand in front of it). There are some nice inscriptions there from old visitors. Leave a Comment Directions: Luxor, west side of the Nile on the way to Kings Valley
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