Archaeology & History

3,400-year-old colossus restored in Egypt

By T.K. Randall
December 16, 2014

Image: The Mortuary Complex of Menkaure, Egypt
Credit: Noureddin Abdulbari / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) The huge stone monument, which measures 12.92 meters tall, consists of 89 large fragments and several smaller pieces that together weigh in at more than 110 tonnes.

Originally toppled by an earthquake in 1,200 BC, the statue had lain in pieces until archaeologists took on the mammoth task of putting it back together and restoring it to its original location at the northern gate of the king's funerary temple in Luxor.

The statue, which depicts King Amenhotep III who became ruler of Egypt at the age of 12, joins the world famous Colossi of Memnon which are also located at the same site.

Source: ABC.net.au

Tags: Amenhotep III, Egypt