Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi are two seated quartzite statues of Amenhotep III, 18 metres high, standing alone in the fields on the road to the west bank tombs. They are all that is easily visible of what was once Egypt's largest mortuary temple.

Overview

The temple behind them was flattened by earthquake and later quarried for stone; excavation has been recovering it since 1998, and more statuary now stands in the field beyond. An earthquake in 27 BCE cracked the northern colossus, after which it emitted a sound at dawn that Greek and Roman visitors travelled to hear and named for Memnon. Roman repairs around 199 CE silenced it.

Highlights

There is no ticket and no gate; the statues stand at the roadside and take ten minutes. Read the Greek and Latin graffiti carved into the legs by ancient tourists. Stop here on the way in to the west bank, at first light, when the stone takes colour.

Overview

Highlights

Location