Colossi of Memnon - Luxor Attractions

What Are the Colossi of Memnon?

Memnon colossi of king amenophis III - 16 days standard historical egypt tour package

These two massive, 19.5-meter (64-foot) high statues are not, in fact, “Memnon.” They are sculptures of the powerful Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled during the 18th Dynasty.

They show the pharaoh seated on his royal throne, his hands on his knees, standing watch. If you look closely at the sides of the throne, you can also see smaller figures carved: his wife, Queen Tiye, and his mother, Mutemwiya.

The “Lost” Temple: A Story of Scale

Memnon colossi of king amenophis III 3 min

The most amazing fact about the Colossi is what’s missing. These statues were not just placed in a field. They were the monumental entrance pylon (gateway) to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. This temple, now almost completely gone, was once the largest and most opulent temple complex in all of Egypt—even bigger than Karnak!

However, because it was built too close to the Nile, the annual floods slowly washed the mud-brick temple away over a thousand years, leaving only its two giant stone guardians behind.

Pro-Tip: When you visit, look behind the statues. You’ll see a vast, flat archaeological site. This is the “lost” temple, and you can still see the foundations, column bases, and even newly-discovered statues that show its staggering, original scale.

The Legend of the “Singing Statue”

So, if they are Amenhotep III, where did the name “Memnon” come from? This is where the story gets fascinating. In 27 BC, a massive earthquake shattered the northern statue (the one on the right). After this, a strange phenomenon began. At dawn, just as the sun was rising and the temperature changed, the statue would produce a light, mournful, or “singing” sound. This was likely caused by wind vibrating through the new cracks.

Early Roman tourists, who knew their Greek mythology, traveled from all over the empire to hear it. They believed it was the voice of Memnon, the mythical hero of the Trojan War, calling out to his mother, Eos (the goddess of the dawn).

This “singing” made the statue one of the ancient world’s greatest tourist attractions. The sound sadly stopped around 199 AD when the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, in a well-intentioned but misguided act, “fixed” the statue by repairing its upper half—silencing Memnon’s call forever.

Your Essential First Stop on the West Bank

The Colossi of Memnon are the perfect introduction to your West Bank tour. They are located right by the main road, making it a quick and easy 15-minute stop.

This is the essential photo opportunity that sets the stage for the wonders to come. Let your Egypt Fun Tours guide tell you the full story of Amenhotep III and the singing statue before we whisk you away to the main event: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, and all the other treasures that lie just beyond these ancient guardians.

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