Luxor, Egypt (AP) — Egypt on Sunday unveiled the restoration of two massive statues of a renowned pharaoh in the southern city of Luxor, part of a series of archaeological showcases designed to boost tourism.
The enormous alabaster figures, known as the Colossi of Memnon, have been reassembled following a restoration effort that spanned nearly two decades. The statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned around 3,400 years ago.
“We are celebrating the completion and re-erection of these two colossal statues today,” said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, speaking to The Associated Press ahead of the official ceremony.
Ismail emphasized the importance of the statues to Luxor, a city famed for its ancient temples and monuments. He explained that the project also aims to recreate the original appearance of Amenhotep III’s funerary temple as it once stood in antiquity.
Amenhotep III, considered one of ancient Egypt’s most influential pharaohs, ruled during the New Kingdom—widely regarded as Egypt’s most prosperous era. His reign, dated from 1390 to 1353 BC, was marked by peace, wealth, and ambitious building projects, including his mortuary temple in Luxor, where the Colossi stand, and the temple of Soleb in Nubia. His mummy is currently displayed in a museum in Cairo.
According to Ismail, the two statues were knocked down by a powerful earthquake around 1200 BC, an event that also led to the destruction of Amenhotep III’s funerary temple.
A hot air ballon flys over the assembly of two giant alabaster statues for Pharoah Amenhotep III, before the official opening, in the southern city of Luxor, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
Egypt Unveils Restored Colossi of Memnon in Luxor
Egypt has unveiled the restoration of two massive statues of a renowned ancient pharaoh in Luxor, part of a series of high-profile archaeological projects aimed at boosting tourism.
The alabaster statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled around 3,400 ago. The figures were reassembled following a restoration effort that spanned nearly two decades. The announcement was made during a ceremony in the southern city of Luxor.
Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the project marked the completion and re-erection of the colossal statues. He noted their importance to Luxor, a city famed for its temples and archaeological heritage, adding that the restoration helps recreate the original appearance of Amenhotep III’s funerary temple.
Amenhotep III ruled during Egypt’s New Kingdom, a period marked by prosperity, stability, and extensive construction. His reign, dated to 1390–1353 BC, is remembered for major building projects, including his mortuary temple in Luxor and another at Soleb in Nubia. His mummy is currently displayed in a museum in Cairo.
According to Ismail, a powerful earthquake around 1200 BC destroyed much of the pharaoh’s funerary temple and toppled the statues. Over time, the colossi were broken into fragments, some of which were reused in other monuments, including the Karnak Temple. Archaeologists later recovered and reassembled these pieces as part of the restoration.
Work on the site began in the late 1990s under an Egyptian-German archaeological mission led by German Egyptologist Hourig Sourouzian. She said the goal of the project was to preserve what remains of a once-grand temple complex.
The statues show Amenhotep III seated, with his hands resting on his thighs and his face turned east toward the Nile and the rising sun. He wears a nemes headdress topped with the double crown and a pleated royal kilt, symbols of his divine authority. Smaller statues at his feet represent his wife, Queen Tiye.
Measuring 14.5 meters and 13.6 meters tall, the colossi stand at the entrance of the king’s temple on the west bank of the Nile. The temple complex spans about 35 hectares and is believed to have been one of the largest and richest in Egypt, often compared to the Karnak Temple.
The statues were carved from Egyptian alabaster quarried at Hatnub in Middle Egypt and mounted on inscribed pedestals naming the temple and quarry. Unlike many ancient Egyptian monuments, the colossi were partly assembled from separately carved pieces attached to a central alabaster core.
The unveiling follows the recent opening of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids, a flagship project in Egypt’s efforts to revive tourism and support the economy.
Tourism, a key sector dependent on Egypt’s ancient heritage, suffered after the 2011 uprising and later during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. However, it has begun to recover. About 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024, contributing roughly 8% of the country’s GDP.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, who attended the ceremony, said Luxor would continue to attract visitors as new discoveries and restorations emerge. Authorities expect around 18 million tourists this year and are aiming for 30 million annual visitors by 2032.
