Colossi of Memnon is the one of the biggest tourist attractions in Luxor, due to its majestic appearance and for the mysterious sounds emitted by the northern colossus statue at every sunrise.

Where Are The Colossi Of Memnon Located

Colossi of Memnon is located in the West Bank of Luxor

When Was The Colossi Of Memnon Built

The two colossal statues of Memnon, built before 1350 BC, were erected in front of the temple of King Amenhotep III. This structure was originally built as a funerary temple for Pharaoh Amenhotep III.

Statue Of Memnon Height

The Colossi of Memnon are over 18 metres tall. The statues were decorated with elaborate carvings that included hieroglyphic inscriptions honouring the origins and achievements of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Amenhotep III is considered one of ancient Egypt's most prolific builders. This temple was his most notable architectural design, but unfortunately, only a few relics remain today, Because of its location, which put it in direct confrontation with the Nile flood.

Statue Of Memnon Meaning

Who Was Memnon?

Memnon was a very famous legendary figure in Greek mythology, as he was the son of the god Eos, the god of dawn. Memnon was an Ethiopian king and the leader of the Trojan War, and he died at the hands of Achilles. People linked him to the two statues because at dawn the statue makes a sound that seems like a moaning sound, so they said that it is the moaning of King Memnon crying in the arms of his son, the god Eos (the god of dawn), at dawn.

Colossi Of Memnon Sound

In 27 BC, an earthquake caused partial destruction of one of the colossi: the upper part collapsed, while the lower part showed only cracks. After this event, a strange musical sound began to be heard coming from the lower part of the statue, like a melody. People believed this sound was the groaning of the legendary King Memnon, who used to make this sound at dawn when dew fell. Therefore, the two statues were associated with Memnon, the son of the dawn god (Eos). It is believed that this sound was produced by air currents touching the porous surface of the stones heated by the sun's rays. It is possible that the increased temperature that caused the dew to evaporate produced a "melody"-like sound, but there is no way to verify this as the sound production stopped hundreds of years ago, after restoration.

Colossi Of Memnon Luxor Egypt

When visiting the West Nile area, you should wear comfortable clothes that will help you during movement. You should also wear comfortable shoes, bring bottles of water with you, bring a hat to protect yourself from the sun’s rays, and apply sunblock.