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.
Ancient Egyptians called the southern of the two statues
"Ruler of Rulers". Later travelers called them "Shammy and
"Tammy", which may have been a corruption of the Arabic
words for "left" and "right". Today they are known locally
as "el-Colossat", or "es-Salamat". The statues are made from
carved blocks of quartzite quarried either at Giza or Gebel
es-Silsila. 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
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.