Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two huge seated statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, standing about 18 metres tall on the west bank of the Nile at Al Gezira, Luxor, Egypt, beside the road from the ferry to the main west bank sites. They once guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III's vast mortuary temple, which has almost completely vanished under the surrounding farmland, though excavations nearby continue to uncover fragments. The statues are carved from quartzite blocks brought from quarries far to the north, and the throne sides show the figures of Queen Tiye and Mutemwiya, along with Nile gods binding papyrus and lotus. In Roman times a crack from an earthquake made the northern colossus emit a sound at dawn, which Greek and Roman visitors attributed to Memnon greeting his mother Eos; emperors including Hadrian came to hear it, and the graffiti they left is still visible on the legs. Repairs ended the sound. There is no ticket and no gate: the statues can be seen from the road and from a small parking area with vendors, and the stop normally takes 15 to 20 minutes. Many tours include the Colossi as a brief photo stop between Medinet Habu, Hatshepsut's temple and the Valley of the Kings. Sunrise and sunset give the warmest light and the fewest tour buses, and the best angle is from the low fence in front, with the green fields behind. Midday is busiest with coaches and crowds around the vendors. Taxis and bicycles from the ferry both work, and the statues are open at all hours.