Carved around 1350 BCE for Pharaoh Amenhotep III, the twin quartzite statues, about 18 meters high, once flanked the eastern entrance of his vast “Temple of Millions of Years.” An earthquake in 27 BCE cracked the northern colossus, and dawn vibrations produced a tone that captivated Roman visitors as the “Singing Memnon.” Later repairs under Emperor Septimius Severus in 199 CE ended the sound, but the legend endured. The Greek name “Memnon” reflects a later link to a Homeric hero rather than the Egyptian king. Ongoing conservation around the broader temple complex is revealing sphinx avenues, courts, and statuary, restoring context to these iconic sentinels of ancient Thebes.
Best Colossi of Memnon Travel Guide
Meet Luxor’s enduring icons: two 18-meter guardians of Amenhotep III’s lost temple. Learn the legend of the “Singing Memnon,” time your visit for sunrise or late afternoon, and pair with Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu, or a balloon flight for sweeping West Bank views.
