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The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III erected in 1350 BC.
The twin statues depict Amenhotep III (14th Century BC) in a seated position, his hands resting on his knees and his gaze facing eastwards towards the river. Two shorter figures are carved into the front throne, alongside his legs: these are his wife Tiy and mother Mutemwiya. The side panels depict the Nile god Hapy.
The original function of the Colossi was to stand guard at the entrance of Amenhotep's memorial temple. In its day this temple complex was the largest and most opulent in Egypt. With the exception of the Colossi very little remains today of Amenhotep's temple.
Standing on the edge of the Nile floodplain successive annual floods gnawed away at the foundations and successive rulers have purloined the monuments.
Memnon was a hero of the Trojan War - a King of Ethiopia who led his armies from Africa into Asia Minor and who was finally slain by Achilles.
In 27BC a large earthquake is believed to have shattered the eastern colossus - collapsing from the waist up and cracking the lower half. Following its rupture, the remaining lower half of this statue was then reputed to 'sing' on various occasions - always within an hour or two of sunrise - usually right at dawn.  |
