 | The Colossii of Memnon are all that remain of the mortuary temple of Amenophis III. The temple which they guarded was destroyed by constant flooding within two hundred years of its construction because it had been built too close to the flood plain of the nearby River Nile. The base of each statue is covered in Roman and other graffiti, reminding today's visitors of the millions who have been here over the last three and a half thousand years. Small statues of his wife, Queen Tiy, and his mother Mutemuia stand on either side of each of the seated pharoah's legs. The severe wear and tear on these statues shows you how they were pieced together block by block. |
