Quick answer
The Colossi of Memnon are two seated stone statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, each about 18 metres tall, standing in the fields of Luxor's West Bank. They once guarded the largest mortuary temple in Thebes, and today they are a 15 to 20-minute photo stop, usually the first sight of a West Bank day.
What are the Colossi of Memnon?
The Colossi of Memnon are twin quartzite sandstone statues of Amenhotep III, seated with his hands on his knees and facing east towards the Nile and the rising sun. They were carved around 1350 BC to stand either side of the main gateway of the king's mortuary temple, the place where his cult was to be kept alive after his death.
Each statue is about 18 metres tall with its base and weighs, by most estimates, several hundred tonnes. The stone was not local: it was hauled up the Nile from quarries far to the north, most likely at Gebel el-Ahmar near modern Cairo. Look at the sides of the thrones and you will see the Nile gods Hapy binding papyrus and lotus stems, the symbol of a united Upper and Lower Egypt.
Standing against the king's legs are smaller figures of women. Beside the southern statue are his mother Mutemwiya and his great royal wife Queen Tiye, who was one of the most powerful queens of the New Kingdom.
Why are they called Memnon, and did they really sing?
Greek and Roman visitors named the statues after Memnon, a mythical Ethiopian king killed by Achilles at Troy, because the northern colossus seemed to cry out at dawn. An earthquake, traditionally dated to 27 BC, cracked the upper part of that statue. Afterwards, as the morning sun warmed the damp, broken stone, it gave off a sound described as a moan or the snapping of a lyre string. Visitors took it to be Memnon greeting his mother Eos, the goddess of dawn.
The statue became one of the great tourist sights of the Roman world. Dozens of Greek and Latin inscriptions are carved into its legs and feet by people recording that they heard it. The most famous visit was by Emperor Hadrian and his wife Sabina in AD 130; verses by the court poet Julia Balbilla, who was with them, are still legible on the left leg.
The singing stopped after the statue was patched with sandstone blocks, a repair usually attributed to Emperor Septimius Severus around AD 199. You can still see the change in stone in the upper body today.
What is being excavated behind the colossi?
Behind the statues lie the remains of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple, once the largest temple on the West Bank, covering an area far bigger than any later mortuary temple. Built partly on the floodplain, it was weakened by Nile floods and an earthquake, then stripped for building stone by later kings. The site is known locally as Kom el-Hettan.
Since 1998 an international team led by the Armenian-German archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian has been excavating and re-erecting what survives. They have recovered colossal standing statues of the king, rows of black granite statues of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, and stelae and sphinxes. Several restored colossi now stand again at the temple gateways.
At the time of writing the excavation area is not routinely open to visitors, but from the roadside fence you can look across to the re-erected statues. Ask your guide what is visible on the day: this is one of the most active excavations in Luxor and it changes from season to season.
How long should you stop, and when?
Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough, and the best light is early in the morning when the statues face the rising sun. Most private itineraries stop here on the way to the Valley of the Kings or on the way back. If you are flying on a sunrise hot-air balloon, look out for them from above: they are easy to spot among the sugarcane fields.
Late afternoon also works for photographs, with the statues in silhouette against a softer western sky. Midday light is flat and hot. Walk around both statues: the backs and sides of the thrones carry the best carving, and the Roman graffiti on the northern statue is at about head height on its legs.
Getting there and practical tips
The colossi sit beside the main road on the West Bank, about 20–25 minutes by car from East Bank hotels via the Luxor bridge, or a few minutes' drive from the public ferry landing. They are on the direct route to almost every West Bank site, so they cost you very little time.
- Tickets: at the time of writing the roadside viewing area is free. Sites further in, such as Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum, need tickets; check egymonuments.gov.eg.
- Hawkers: this is a busy coach stop, and sellers of scarabs and scarves gather. A polite "la, shukran" (no, thank you) works.
- Combine well: the temple of Medinet Habu is only a few minutes' drive south, and makes a far quieter second stop than following the coaches.
Colossi of Memnon: FAQs
Do the Colossi of Memnon still sing?
No. The sound stopped after the cracked northern statue was repaired in Roman times, probably around AD 199. The legend survives in the Greek and Latin graffiti carved on its legs.
Who do the Colossi of Memnon depict?
Both statues show Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, not Memnon. The name was given by Greek visitors who linked the dawn sound to the Trojan War hero.
Do you need a ticket for the Colossi of Memnon?
At the time of writing, no ticket is needed to see the statues from the roadside viewing area. The excavated temple behind them is generally closed to visitors.
Are the Colossi of Memnon worth stopping for?
Yes, as a short stop. They are on the way to everything else on the West Bank, and 15 minutes gives you the statues, the Roman inscriptions and a look at the temple excavations behind.
