Colossi of Memnon
Two 18-meter quartzite giants that have been the most photographed statues in Egypt since Roman times.
Two seated colossal statues of Amenhotep III at Kom el-Hettan
What to expect at Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi are the sole surviving fragments of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, which in its day was the largest religious building in Egypt — bigger than Karnak — before an earthquake and Nile floods dismantled it. Only these two seated statues of the pharaoh remain in place, staring east toward the sunrise. Roman tourists in the 1st century AD came to hear the northern colossus 'sing' at dawn (a crack that whistled with temperature change until it was repaired under Septimius Severus).
It's a 15-minute roadside stop rather than a destination, but every West Bank tour includes it and it costs nothing. Behind the colossi, ongoing excavations at Kom el-Hettan have unearthed dozens more statues that you can view over a low fence. Combine with any West Bank itinerary — the site is on the main road to Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and the Valley of the Kings.
Questions about Colossi of Memnon
Completely free — the colossi stand roadside with no ticket booth.
Yes, always free, every day.
15 to 30 minutes is plenty — it's a photo stop, not a walking site.
Never closed — accessible 24/7 as it is open roadside.
No tickets exist for the colossi.
On the main West Bank road between the ferry landing and Hatshepsut Temple, 4 km from the ferry. Every taxi and tour passes through here.
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