Attraction
Karnak Temple Complex
The vast temple complex of Amun-Re on Luxor's East Bank, built and rebuilt by around thirty pharaohs and famous for its forest-like Great Hypostyle Hall.
Colossi of Memnon
Two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III on the West Bank, once guarding his mortuary temple and famous in Roman times for 'singing' at dawn.
At a glance
- Type
- Ancient statues
- Area
- West Bank, Luxor, Egypt
Good to know
- Roadside site
- Quick stop
Why we recommend it
The Colossi of Memnon are usually the first ancient monuments people see on the West Bank, rising out of the fields beside the main road towards the Theban hills. The two seated figures represent Amenhotep III and stand about 18 metres high including their platforms. They once flanked the entrance to his vast mortuary temple, now known locally as Kom el-Hettan, which was largely destroyed long ago.
The statues were carved from quartzite sandstone quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar near modern Cairo and hauled roughly 675 kilometres overland to Thebes, an extraordinary feat of transport. Greek and Roman visitors mistakenly linked the northern figure with Memnon, a hero of the Trojan War, and the name has stuck.
After an earthquake in 27 BC shattered the northern statue from the waist up, its lower half was reported to make a sound at dawn. The geographer Strabo heard it around 20 BC, and ancient writers compared the noise to a blow, a snapping lyre string or ringing brass. It became a tourist attraction, and around 107 Greek and Latin inscriptions left by Roman-era visitors survive on the legs and base. Repairs around 199 AD, traditionally credited to Septimius Severus, added upper tiers of sandstone, and the sound was not heard again.
Behind the colossi, archaeologists led by Hourig Sourouzian have been excavating the remains of the temple. Their work has revealed a complex with three pylons, and several more statues of the king have been re-erected, while hundreds of fragments have been recorded. Some of this work is visible from the edge of the site, and it shows how much larger the monument once was.
A visit takes only fifteen to thirty minutes, and most people stop on the way to or from the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu or the Ramesseum. Early morning is the most atmospheric time, when the light is low and the roadside traders have not yet set up. Balloon flights at sunrise often pass close by, and the statues make a good landmark from the air. There is no building to enter, so the stop works well for anyone short of time or energy, and it is one of the easiest West Bank sites for wheelchair users to see from the roadside.
Colossi of Memnon FAQs
What are the Colossi of Memnon?
Two seated statues of Amenhotep III that once stood at the entrance to his mortuary temple on the West Bank.
How tall are they?
They are about 18 metres high including their platforms.
Why are they called Memnon?
Greek and Roman visitors linked the northern statue with Memnon, a hero of the Trojan War.
Did the statues really sing?
Ancient writers reported a sound at dawn from the damaged northern statue after an earthquake in 27 BC; it stopped after repairs around 199 AD.
How long do you need?
Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough for most visitors.
Where did the stone come from?
The quartzite was quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar near Cairo and moved about 675 kilometres to Thebes.
What is nearby?
Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the road to the Valley of the Kings are all close by.