Colossi of Memnon are the two magnificent statues representing Amenhotep III. The statues show the king seated on a throne. This place is also known as el-Colossat or el-Sanamat. The king Amenhotep III reigned Egypt from 1386-1353 BCE.
The throne displays symbolic engravings and images of his mother, wife, and god Hapi. Architects built these statues to safeguard the king’s mortuary temple. However, very little of the mortuary temple today remains apart from the Colossi of Memnon.
Location of Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon is found in the Temple of Amenhotep III, Theban Necropolis. The statues stand west of the modern city of Luxor. They face east, looking towards the Nile River.
Description
The twin statues show Amenhotep III in a seated position. The king’s hands rest on his knees, and he gazes eastwards towards the river. The front throne has two other figures carved into it. The shorter figures are the king’s wife, “Tiye”, and mother “, Mutemwiya”. Moreover, the throne side panels depict the Nile god Hapi.
Construction
Both figures rise 60ft high and weigh 720 tons each. It is worth noting that the sculptures are blocks made of quartzite sandstone. Workers carved these statues from single blocks of sandstone. Then, those workers quarried the blocks at el-Gabal el-Ahmar (near modern-day Cairo). Later, labourers transported them 675 km overland to Thebes (Luxor).
The question of how the blocks got transported overland remains unanswered. Historians believed that the stones were too heavy to transport the Nile. Perhaps labourers pushed the blocks on sledges the same way they hauled the rocks for the Pyramids in Giza.
The stone platforms on which the statute stands themselves rise to 13 feet. The two figures are about 15 metres apart.
The purpose of the Colossi of Memnon
Initially, these giant statues were to stand guard at Amenhotep’s memorial temple entrance. This temple was a massive construction that the ancient Egyptians built during the king’s reign. In this temple, the ancient Egyptians worshipped him as a god on earth before and after his demise.
The complex was the largest and most grand mortuary temple in Ancient Egypt. It covered a vast space of 35 hectares. Later rivals like Ramesses II’s Ramesseum or Medinet Habu failed to match its area. Moreover, even the grand Temple of Karnak is measured smaller than Amenhotep’s mortuary.
Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III, also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent, was the ninth ruler of the Eighteenth dynasty. He ruled Egypt from 1386 to 1349 BC. After the demise of his father, Thutmose IV, the king took over Egypt. As a result, the Pharaoh’s reign witnessed unseen prosperity and splendour.
During the rule of Amenhotep III, Egypt reached its peak of artistic and international power. After his demise, his son, Amenhotep IV, was ruled. Later, he changed his royal name to Akhenaten. The great king has the most surviving statues of an Egyptian Pharaoh. Archaeologists found over 250 of his figures and could identify them. Through these statues, the Pharaoh could depict his entire reign.
Colossi of Memnon in Modern Days
Unfortunately, nature has pretty much affected both statues. The features of the structures above the waist are almost unrecognisable. The southern sculpture consists of a single piece of stone. However, the northern figure shows a large, extensive crack. It stretches in the lower half and above the waist and comprises five stone tiers.
The upper levels constitute a different type of sandstone. It proves that there was an attempt at reconstruction in the past. Recently, William de Wiveleslie Abney attributed it to Septimus Severus. Historians believe that the statues were initially identical to each other. However, inscriptions and minor art may have shown a variation.
Although the ancient Egyptians constructed the Colossi to guard the Amenhotep IIIs mortuary complex, unfortunately, excluding the Colossi, very little remains of the temple today. The temple stands on the Nile floodplain’s edge. Hence, subsequent annual flooding broke away its foundation slowly.
Lithography from the 1840s by David Roberts showed the Colossi surrounded by water. Later rulers might also have secured portions of the monuments to build new structures.
Destruction of the complex
Soon after the temple complex was completed, it witnessed earthquake destruction. The Armenian Institute of Seismology dated it around 1200 BCE. As a result, this earthquake left only the two giant Colossi at the entrance standing due to this earthquake. These statutes saw subsequent destruction by an earthquake in 27 BCE. It later saw repair work partly by the Roman authorities.
The block used by the Roman engineers might be sourced from Edfu. Unfortunately, the 1200 BCE earthquake also left many cracks in the ground. Consequently, it led to the burial of many new statues. These statues have been subject to extensive restoration led by Hourig Sourouzian.
At the far end of the yard, a rectangular temple complex surrounded by columns existed. The Armenian archaeologist revealed that the complex consisted of a peristyle courtyard. Archaeologists have reconstructed four of the statues, and eight of them are waiting for re-election.
Sounds Heard from the Colossi of Memnon
In 27 BCE, a large earthquake destroyed the northern colossus. It collapsed from the waist up and cracked the lower half. People believed that after its rupture, the remaining lower half of the statue ‘sang.’ This usually happened on various occasions- always within an hour of sunrise, usually around dawn.
The sound became reported most often in February or March. However, that could be a reflection of the tourist season. The earliest report of the sound is that of the Greek historian Strabo. He reported having heard the sound during a visit in 20 BCE. However, by that time, the sound was already well-known.
The descriptions varied. Strabo reported the music to sound ‘like a blow.’ Meanwhile, Pausanias compared it to the ‘string of a lyre breaking.’ However, people also described it as striking brass or whistling. The statue’s base also has about 90 tourist inscriptions reporting whether they heard the sound.
Later, a legend of the Vocal Memnon erupted. People believed that sound brought luck. It led to a constant stream of visitors marvelling at the Colossi of Memnon.
Conclusion
The Colossi of Memnon is the only surviving relic from the grand temple of Amenhotep III. However, it allows people to marvel at the king’s incredible history and power. Tourists to date visit the Colossi to feel the might and listen to tales of the grand statues.
Awestruck Architecture! I must say. They seem so life-like. The seated statues show King Amehotep III seating and also depicts the images of his mother The Goddess Hapi. These were built to protect the mortuary temple of the King. The temples have been destroyed, only these two remain as a silent witness of history. The unique feature is that they have been carved out of one single piece of sandstone. They are made of quartizite sandstone. Even though they were built to guard the largest temple, sadly nothing of the temple remains today as it has been destroyed by the recurrent flooding of the Nile. Even the Colossi have also been damaged. It had to witness several severe earthquakes which lead to its destruction. But the most unthikable story that is heard that the Colossi emits a certain sound. People to this day believe that it brought good luck. the main reason why it is considered to be filled with tourists always. Whether I heard it? Well you have to go and visit there to unravel the mystery. All the best!