Kom el-Hetan (Temple of Amenhotep III)

Known today mostly by its guardians, the Colossi of Memnon, the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III was once the largest and most opulent temple in Thebes—even larger than Karnak. Destroyed by earthquakes and the annual Nile floods, the "Temple of Millions of Years" is now rising from the sand thanks to modern archaeology, revealing hundreds of statues of the goddess Sekhmet. [1]

Quick facts Encyclopedic guide FAQ
West Bank (Entrance) Amenhotep III "Singing" Statue

Quick facts

A fast snapshot of Kom el-Hetan—the lost giant of Thebes and its rediscovery.

Location

The first monument you see when arriving on the West Bank, located in the cultivation along the main road. [1]

Dedicated to

Amun-Ra and the cult of Amenhotep III (The Magnificent), the father of Akhenaten and grandfather of Tutankhamun. [2]

Destruction

A massive earthquake in 27 BC toppled the colossi and shattered the temple walls. Later kings used it as a quarry for stone. [3]

Scale

Originally covered 35 hectares (86 acres). It was the largest single temple complex ever built in Egypt, surpassing even Karnak's Hypostyle Hall. [1]

Highlights

The Colossi of Memnon, the Northern Stela, and the open-air museum of reassembled Sekhmet statues (goddess of healing). [2]

Visiting

The Colossi are free to view from the road. The interior excavation site is sometimes closed to the public or requires special permission.

Encyclopedic guide

Beyond the Colossi: Explore the resurrection of Egypt's most magnificent temple.

The Vanished Giant

For centuries, the two Colossi of Memnon sat alone in a field, the only visible remnants of a lost wonder. Behind them lay nothing but farmland and scattered stones. However, Kom el-Hetan was once a vast complex of three pylons, a peristyle court, a hypostyle hall, and a sanctuary, all built of sandstone, limestone, and granite. It functioned as a "Temple of Millions of Years" for Amenhotep III, the "Sun King" who ruled Egypt at the peak of its wealth and power. [1]

The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon facing the Nile. They originally flanked the first pylon of the temple, which is now completely gone.

Key Features

  • The Colossi: Two quartzite statues, 18 meters high, representing the king. The northern one is the famous "singing statue." [2]
  • The Solar Court: A massive open court dedicated to the sun god, originally filled with hundreds of statues. [3]
  • Sekhmet Statues: The king commissioned hundreds of black granite statues of the lioness goddess to protect him from plague and disease. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about the Colossi of Memnon and Kom el-Hetan.

The Greeks misidentified the northern statue as Memnon, a mythical king of Ethiopia who fought in the Trojan War. When the statue "sang" at dawn (due to cracks from an earthquake), they believed it was Memnon greeting his mother, Eos (the Dawn). [1]
No. In roughly 199 AD, the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus repaired the statue to curry favor with the oracle. The repairs filled the cracks that caused the noise, silencing the statue forever. [3]
It was built on the floodplain and destroyed by annual Nile floods and a major earthquake in 27 BC. Later pharaohs (like Merneptah) then used the ruins as a quarry, taking the stone blocks to build their own temples. [2]

Sources & further reading

References supporting the historical data, architectural details, and dates presented in this guide.

  1. Sourouzian, Hourig. The Temple of Million Years of Amenhotep III at Thebes. (Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project). View Official Project Site
  2. Wilkinson, Richard H. The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, 2000.
  3. Strabo & Pausanias. Geography (Ancient Greek accounts of the singing Memnon).
  4. Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities (Egypt), Colossi of Memnon. View

Note on visiting: While the Colossi are always visible, the interior restoration site has restricted access. Please check locally for special tour opportunities.

Last updated: February 17, 2026