Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy presided over the unveiling of two colossal alabaster statues of King Amenhotep III at his mortuary temple on Luxor’s West Bank, after extensive restoration and reinstallation that returned them to their original positions. The event highlights Egypt’s continued work to preserve and revitalize one of its key archaeological sites, boosting its historical integrity and visitor appeal.
The restoration efforts began through a collaboration between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo since 1998, supported by the World Monuments Fund and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The project concentrated on conserving the temple's remaining architectural features, restoring the statues, and protecting the site from environmental risks.
The statues stand between 13.6 and 14.5 meters tall, showing the king seated with hands on his thighs, wearing the traditional nemes headdress, double crown, ceremonial beard, and bull’s tail, alongside smaller figures of royal queens and princesses.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the work followed the latest scientific methods and international conservation standards. He added that specialized materials matching the original stone were used for long-term preservation, along with an integrated water-management system to shield the site from rising Nile-linked groundwater.
Dietrich Rau from the German Archaeological Institute emphasized the project's collaborative aspect, involving Egyptian and international experts, and noted the U.S. Research Center in Egypt's role in reducing groundwater levels around the temple.
Beyond the two statues, the initiative recovered, documented, and reinstalled various architectural and sculptural pieces, including over 280 statues and fragments of the goddess Sekhmet, plus limestone sphinxes. These actions are part of a larger plan to rehabilitate Luxor’s West Bank and maintain its exceptional archaeological significance.
Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple was built in the first half of the 14th century BCE during the king’s 39-year reign, ranking among ancient Egypt’s largest and most ornate funerary complexes. Much of it was ruined by an earthquake around 1200 BCE, with further harm from floods, sedimentation, and quarrying. The restored statues, famously called the Colossi of Memnon, are among the few surviving elements returned to their original spots.
The project also trained Egyptian conservators and architects, fostering national skills in heritage protection. Minister Fathy voiced hopes that this success would spur more international partnerships in safeguarding and promoting Egypt’s cultural legacy.
