Colossi of Memnon Guide: Luxor's Twin Giants on the West Bank

Rising abruptly from the green fields of Luxor’s West Bank, two enormous stone figures sit side by side, gazing east toward the Nile. The Colossi of Memnon have greeted travellers for more than three thousand years, and one of them was once famous across the ancient world for “singing” at dawn. Best of all, they stand in the open air and cost nothing to see.

What the Colossi are and why they matter

The two statues depict the pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled during the Eighteenth Dynasty at the height of Egypt’s New Kingdom power and wealth. They are carved from massive blocks of quartzite sandstone and originally flanked the entrance to his enormous mortuary temple — once one of the largest temple complexes in all of Egypt.

That temple has almost entirely vanished, toppled by earthquakes and the slow reuse of its stone over the centuries. The colossi endured because of their sheer mass, leaving these two seated giants as the most visible survivors of a monument that has otherwise returned to the fields.

The legend of the singing statue

The name “Memnon” comes from Greek and Roman visitors, who linked the northern statue to Memnon, a hero of the Trojan War. After an earthquake damaged that statue in antiquity, it began to emit a strange sound at sunrise — likely caused by temperature changes and moisture in the cracked stone.

Ancient tourists travelled from across the Roman world to hear the “song of Memnon,” believing it to be the hero greeting his mother, the dawn goddess. Some even carved their names and impressions into the statue’s base, where these graffiti can still be seen. A later Roman restoration is thought to have silenced the phenomenon for good.

What you will see and how to visit

The colossi sit right beside the main road leading into the West Bank monuments, so most visitors stop here first. The site is open-air and freely accessible — there is no enclosed ticket area for the statues themselves, which makes this an easy, no-fuss stop.

• The two seated colossi, each towering far above the modern road and visitors below.
• The smaller figures carved beside the pharaoh’s legs, representing his wife and mother.
• The Roman-era graffiti on the northern statue, a rare written record left by ancient sightseers.
• The wider archaeological zone behind them, where ongoing excavations continue to reveal more of the lost mortuary temple.

Tip: stop at the colossi at the start of your West Bank tour, in the soft early light. You’ll have a clear view before the sun climbs and the tour coaches arrive, and you can photograph the statues against an open sky.

Getting there and how long to spend

The Colossi of Memnon lie on the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor, on the route shared by the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the other West Bank sites.

Detail	What to know
Typical visit length	15 to 30 minutes
Cost	Open-air, freely accessible
Usual base	Luxor
Combine with	Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple

Because they sit on the main road, the colossi are almost always included as a quick stop on a West Bank tour, whether by organised excursion, private driver or taxi. It is not a destination you build a day around, but rather a memorable bookend to the tombs and temples nearby. See our plan your trip page for help organising a full West Bank day.

Best time to visit and practical tips

Visit at the start of your day, ideally in the cooler months from autumn to spring when Luxor is most comfortable. There is little shade, so a hat and water are sensible even for a short stop.

You only need fifteen to thirty minutes here, but it is well spent. Set against the backdrop of the Theban hills and the green fields where a great temple once stood, the Colossi of Memnon are a fittingly grand introduction to the wonders of Luxor’s West Bank.