The restored Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, Egypt. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Egypt has unveiled the restored Colossi of Memnon, two colossal statues of an ancient pharaoh, in the southern city of Luxor. The project marks the completion of a nearly 20-year restoration effort and highlights the country’s renewed focus on its archaeological heritage.
The towering statues stand on the west bank of the Nile and depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers. Officials say the restoration aims to preserve the monuments and offer visitors a clearer view of how the original temple complex once appeared.
Reviving a damaged landmark
The Colossi of Memnon suffered severe damage over centuries. A powerful earthquake around 1200 BC toppled the statues and destroyed much of Amenhotep III’s funerary temple, according to Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The collapse left the statues broken into fragments. Their pedestals were scattered, and some stone blocks were later reused in other monuments, including the Karnak temple. Archaeologists later recovered many of these pieces and returned them to the site.
Restoration teams spent years documenting, conserving, and reassembling the remains to stabilize the statues and restore their form.
Who the statues represent
The statues portray Amenhotep III seated on a throne with his hands resting on his thighs. Their faces turn east toward the Nile and the rising sun.
Each figure wears the nemes headdress topped with the double crown, along with a pleated royal kilt that symbolizes divine kingship. At the pharaoh’s feet, two smaller statues depict his wife, Queen Tiye, reflecting her status during his reign.
Amenhotep III ruled from 1390 to 1353 BC during the New Kingdom, a period that lasted about 500 years and marked ancient Egypt’s peak of wealth and power. His reign is often described as peaceful and prosperous, marked by significant construction projects throughout the empire.
Scale of the temple complex
The colossal statues measure 14.5 meters (48 feet) and 13.6 meters (45 feet) in height. They stand at the entrance of the king’s funerary temple, which once covered about 35 hectares (86 acres).
Researchers believe the complex was the largest and richest temple in Egypt. It is often compared to the Karnak temple, also located in Luxor.
The statues were carved from Egyptian alabaster quarried at Hatnub in Middle Egypt. Each originally stood on a massive pedestal engraved with inscriptions naming the temple and the quarry from which it was sourced.
Unlike many monumental sculptures of ancient Egypt, the colossi were built using a mixed method. Parts of the statues were carved separately and then attached to a central monolithic alabaster core, according to the Antiquities Ministry.
Decades of archaeological work
Work at the site began in the late 1990s under an Egyptian-German archaeological mission. The project was led by German Egyptologist Hourig Sourouzian and focused on conserving the temple area and reassembling the statues. Sourouzian said the aim was to protect what remains of a monument that once held great importance.
Tourism push and wider context
The unveiling in Luxor came about six weeks after Egypt opened the long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. Officials see both projects as central to boosting tourism and supporting the national economy.
Tourism has long depended on Egypt’s ancient monuments and artifacts. The sector suffered after the 2011 uprising, followed by years of political unrest and a sharp decline during the coronavirus pandemic. Visitor numbers have begun to recover in recent years, despite global pressures such as Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy attended the Luxor ceremony and said the site will continue to draw attention.
