Colossi of Memnon at the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Necropolis of Thebes, Egypt

Object Details

Local Numbers: Negative number 1965 BC-3, 31.
General: Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note: Typed index card reads, "T 6 Egy. Egypt. Thebes. Colossi of Memnon during Nile flood in September. XVIII Dyn. 9/1965. EE. neg.no. 1965 BC-3, 31." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.

See more items in: Eliot Elisofon Field collection; Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Egypt

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Type: Archival materials; Negatives (photographic); Black-and-white negatives; Negatives

Collection Citation: Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. Where noted, some images remain under the copyright of Life/Shutterstock. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Scope and Contents: "Kom el Hetan is the site of Amenophis (Amenhotep) III's mortuary temple. Unfortunately, virtually nothing remains of this once great edifice beyond the two immense 'Colossi of Memnon' which stood before its entrance. These great sandstone statues of Amenophis III flanked by small figures of his mother and his wife Tiye (Tiyi) are nearly 59ft high and were famous in antiquity for the bell-like tone which was emitted by the expanding stone of the northern figure at sunrise. Greek travellers thus equated the figure with Memnon, the son of Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, but repairs to the statue in the reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus silenced the sound forever." [Wilkinson R., 2000: The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson]. "Ancient Thebes spanned the Nile River. The east bank is the site of modern Luxor and El Karnak, and was formerly the city of the living, with great temples and residences. On the west bank was the city of the dead, the "Necropolis of Thebes," containing the valleys of the royal tombs, royal mortuary temples, and the houses of priests and workers devoted to the dead." [The J.P.Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographic Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Institute of Architects, directing the Egyptian portion of the documentary on Ancient Egypt, March 1965 and September 1965.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.