The Colossi of Memnon in Luxor are among the most spectacular monuments in this Upper Egyptian city. You will undoubtedly pass by them during your excursion on the West Bank of Ancient Thebes, on your way to the Valley of the Kings. However, to fully appreciate them, it is worth understanding them in depth. Therefore, in this post, we tell you what they represent and what are the most famous legends associated with these two imposing statues.
What the Colossi of Memnon Represent
One of the first interesting facts about the Colossi of Memnon is that they do not represent Memnon. In reality, they are a dual representation of Amenhotep III, pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, father of the famous Akhenaten. In both cases, they are seated, solemnly welcoming those who arrived at the temple complex of which they were a part: the funerary complex of this pharaoh. In addition to Amenhotep III, the statues of the two main women in the pharaoh’s life can be recognized in smaller size: his mother, Mutemwiya, and his wife, Tiye. These are two statues almost 20 meters high, created around 1350 BC.
So, Who is Memnon and Why Are They Called That?
Memnon is a hero of the Trojan War, a conflict primarily narrated in Homer’s Iliad in the 8th century BC. Therefore, it can be assumed that this name began to be used sometime thereafter. Memnon was a king of Ethiopia who marched with his armies from Africa to Anatolia to confront Achilles, who ultimately became his slayer. Although this territory does not and did not correspond to what we understand as Ethiopia, the fact that he departed from Africa, south of Egypt, which is the closest part to Nubia, Sudan, and Black Africa, may have led those familiar with the Trojan War to associate these figures with that hero.
Singing (or Weeping?) Statues at Dawn
In reality, the detail that truly led to this identity being attributed to them has to do with a strange sound that, apparently, one of the statues emitted at dawn: a kind of whistle, which many associated with a song. Let us remember that Memnon was said to be the son of Eos, goddess of the dawn, so rather than a song, it could have been a cry or a lament from his mother about her son. It is difficult to verify this sound and, if so, to explain it, but it could have been due to the evaporation of dew moisture accumulated between its stone blocks, caused by the rapid heating of the environment at the start of the morning.
Fortunate Are All Who Hear Them
Due to significant deterioration over time and earthquakes, the statues were restored during the Roman era… and stopped singing/whistling/weeping. For this reason, the statues no longer emit any sound. But it is popular belief that they continue to do so at certain times. Therefore, it is often said that those who manage to hear it will enjoy some kind of luck or gift.
Stones That Traveled Far
As we have seen, Memnon came from very far away and undertook a journey no less long. The same can be said of the stone used in their construction: it does not come from the immediate vicinity of Luxor, but from the Giza and Cairo area, as it is a special quartzite. This raises many questions, as the original blocks could have been excessively heavy for transport by barges on the Nile. In any case, in 2025, a major restoration of the two Colossi of Memnon was completed. This can certainly be considered one of the most extensive they have received, restoring recognizable human features to the faces and repairing damaged sections of the body.
