Colossi of Memnon, Echoes of an ancient civilization

The First Terrace, Sheikh Abd el Qurna, Luxor Governate, Egypt

Statue in front of the temple of Amenhotep III

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Introduction

The Colossi of Memnon are two enormous rock statues located on the plain between the Nile River's west bank and the Valley of the Kings. Originally, these statues were of pharaoh Amenhotep III, standing at a height of 20 meters. The nearby temple of Amenhotep was destroyed, but the Colossi of Memnon survived. However, their faces have weathered away over time. There was once a building next to them, the funerary temple of Amenhotep III, but later pharaohs dismantled it and used the statues as materials for their own constructions. Eventually, the building was completely destroyed. The statues are believed to represent the Greek mythological figure Memnon, hence they are called the Colossi of Memnon. They have cracks caused by earthquakes, and used to produce mysterious sounds like singing whenever the wind blew. However, the statues were later repaired and no longer make any sound.