Colossi of Memnon - Luxor
The Colossi of Memnon is a name given to two large statues standing on the western bank of the Nile, looking eastwards, close to Luxor city. These statues stand in the fertile part of the western bank so agriculture play a big role in the local economy of the past and even today. Stone to built these statues were brought from the area which is close to modern day Cairo.
History
The Roman engineer built stand for the statues at much later stage (around 199AD). Upper part of the statue (built in blocks) was added by the Romans and it is believed that original statue was built in one piece. The southern Colossus, though badly damaged but it is still holding it’s original shape from the single stone.
In the past, these statues were built to stand guard the entrance of the Temple of Amenhotep III. Temple of Amenhotep III once covered 86 acres of land but today hardly anything is left from this gigantic temple apart from these statues. Both statues belong to Amenhotep III and they were built in 1350BC for the largest temple built in ancient Thebes.
