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Colossi of Memnon
 Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) built a mortuary temple in Thebes
that was guarded by two gigantic statues on the outer gates.
All that remains now are the 23 meter (75 ft) high, one thousand
ton statues of Amenhotep III. Though damaged by nature and
ancient tourists, the statues are still impressive.
The statues are made from carved blocks of quartzite quarried
either at Giza or Gebel es-Silsileh.
The Northern statue depicts Amenhotep III with his mother,
Mutemwia, while the southern statue is of Amenhotep III with his
wife, Tiy and one of his daughters.
On the sides of the statues are reliefs depicting Nile gods
joining together plants symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt.
 Due to an earthquake in 27 BC, these statues became known for a
bell like tone that usually occurred in the morning due to
rising temperatures and humidity.
Thus they were equated by the early Greek travelers with the
figure of Memnon, the son of Aurora who's mother, Eos, was the
goddess of dawn.
To be granted a song meant that you were very much in favor of
the gods.
Visitors came from miles around to hear the music, including
Emperor Hadrian, in 130 A.D.
The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, seeking to repair the
statues in 199 AD, inadvertently silenced them forever. |
