Colossal Amenhotep III statue unveiled in Luxor

Archaeologists on Sunday unveiled a restored colossal statue of Amenhotep III that was toppled in an earthquake more than 3,000 years ago at Egypt’s famed temple city of Luxor.

The statue showing him in a striding attitude was re-erected at the northern gate of the king’s funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile.

The temple is already famous for its existing 3,400-year-old Memnon colossi — twin statues of Amenhotep III whose reign archaeologists say marked the political and cultural zenith of ancient Egyptian civilization.

“These are up to now the highest standing effigies of an Egyptian king in striding attitude,” said German-Armenian archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian, who heads the project to conserve the temple. The world-famous twin Memnon colossi are 21 meters tall but show the pharaoh seated. The restored statue now stands again for the first time since its collapse 3,200 years ago, Sourouzian told AFP.

Original article by AFP

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Colossal Amenhotep III statue unveiled in Luxor