Colossi
of Memnon (known to locals as el-Colossat,
or es-Salamat) are two massive stone statues
of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past
3400 years they have stood in the Theban
necropolis, across the River Nile from
the modern city of Luxor. The twin statues
depict Amenhotep III (fl. 14th century
BC) in a seated position. his hands resting
on his knees and his gaze turned eastward
toward the river and the rising sun. Two
shorter figures are carved into the front
throne alongside his legs: these are his
wife Tiy and mother Mutemwia. The side
panels depict the Nile god Hapy. The statues
are made from blocks of quartzite sandstone
which was quarried at either Giza (near
modern-day Cairo) or Gebel el-Silsileh
(60 km north of Aswan). Including the
stone platforms on which they stand, they
reach a towering 18 metres (approx. 60
ft) in height.
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