The Colossi of Memnon refer to two colossal statues that are situated in the southern part of Egypt on the eastern bank of the Nile River specifically in the city of Luxor. It represents pharaoh Amenhotep III and have been there since 1350 BC. Both Statues are about 18m in height and were originally situated at the entrance of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III most of which also has been destroyed now.
Both of them are carved out of quartzite sand stone and were brought here from a distance of about 420 miles or 675 Kilometers. They are known for a curious phenomenon reported in antiquity: at dawn one of the statues would produce a musical sound which was probably due to heating of the stone and evaporation of dew. It motivated the Greeks to relate the statues to Memnon, a hero of the Trojan War, hence the name Memorial statues.
About Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III was an Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh of Egypt, who reigned from about 1386 to 1349 BC. He is viewed as one of the most significant rulers in Egypt’s history and the age of which is seen as the high point of the pharaonic civilization characterized by the outstanding economic success, art and architecture
1. Reign: His rule was for approximately 38 years, he succeeded his father Thutmose IV to the throne of Egypt and he received a huge and prosperous kingdom.
2. Diplomacy and Trade: Amenhotep III did not go to war with any neighboring region and diplomatic marriages were common; Amenhotep III married princesses of Mitanni, Babylon, and Arzawa, for this purpose.
3. Construction Projects: He was an active builder and constructed many temple, images and monuments. He was involved in construction of Luxor Temple, few building in the Karnak Temple complex, his own mortuary temple at the west bank of Nile at Luxor beside two giant statues known as the Colossi of Memnon.
4. Art and Culture: He used to rule Egypt at the time of its highest artistic and cultural accomplishments, very refined art and sculpture.
5. Religious Changes: Amenhotep III was a great fan of the sun god Amun and has initiated the construction of many temples for the god. He also claimed that he was a god and linked himself with the gods in a very special manner.
6. Family: He was the father of Akhenaten, who in the course of his reign introduced a major religious reform, related to the worship of the sun disk Aten.
According to many historians, Amenhotep III’s rule is considered to be one of the periods of Egyptian history that could be referred to as the golden age.