COLOSSI OF MEMNON
What is the Colossi of Memnon?
The Colossi of Memnon is two gigantic
sandstone colossi representing
Amenhotep III. They were originally
erected by Amenhotep III to stand at the
entrance to a mortuary temple in
Thebes. They are 65 feet high and each
weighs a thousand tons. At one time
they wore the royal crown and were
even higher.
Why were the statues built?
Their purpose was to guard a mortuary
temple. All that remains now are the
19.5m statues of Amenhotep. Though
damaged by nature and ancient tourists,
the statues are still impressive. Long
after Amenhotep the Greeks decided
that the statue represented their hero,
Memnon, son of Tithonus, and Eos, who
fought in defense of Troy and was slain
by Achilles. The north statues, of
Amenhotep's mother Mutemuia and
Queen Tiy, were shattered by an
earthquake in 27 B.C. The fallen
remains produced a musical sound
under certain weather conditions. The
Eqyptians thought that this music came
directly from the gods. To be granted a
song meant that you were very much in
favor of the gods. Visitors came from
miles around to hear the music,
including Emperor Hadrian, in 130 A.D.
The music stopped in 199 A.D. when the
statue was repaired
Where was it built?
The Colossi were built in the city of
Luxor, formerly the ancient city of
Thebes. They was erected on the fringe
of the desert on the west bank of the
Nile River with the statue’s heads facing
the Nile.
When were the statues built?
The mortuary and temples were built
during Amenhotep’s reign.This was
during the New Kingdom
Who built the Statues?
The Colossi of Memnon was built by
Amenhotep III. Amenhotep III reigned
from1382-1344 B.C. During his reign he
enlarged many temples. He built
Malkata on the western shore of
Thebes, south of Medinet Habu. This
complex was a miniature city with
offices, houses, chambers, chapels and
apartments. Close to Malkata he built a
lake for his queen. Next to the lake he
built a palace for his harem and a palace
for QueenTiy.