Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) built a mortuary temple in
Thebes that was guarded by two gigantic statues on the outer gates. All that
remains now are the 23 meter (75 ft) high, one thousand ton statues of
Amenhotep III. Though damaged by nature and ancient tourists, the statues are
still impressive.
Ancient Egyptians called the southern of the two statues
"Ruler of Rulers". Later travelers called them "Shammy and
"Tammy", which may have been a corruption of the Arabic words for
"left" and "right". Today they are known locally as
"el-Colossat", or "es-Salamat". The statues are made from
carved blocks of quartzite quarried either at Giza or Gebel es-Silsila. The
Northern statue depicts Amenhotep III with his mother, Mutemwia, while the southern
statue is of Amenhotep III with his wife, Tiy and one of his daughters. On the
sides of the statues are reliefs depicting Nile gods joining together plants
symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt.
Due to an earthquake in 27 BC, these statues became known
for a bell like tone that usually occurred in the morning due to rising
temperatures and humidity. Thus they were equated by the early Greek travelers
with the figure of Memnon, the son of Aurora who's mother, Eos, was the goddess
of dawn. To be granted a song meant that you were very much in favor of the
gods. Visitors came from miles around to hear the music, including Emperor
Hadrian, in 130 A.D. The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, seeking to
repair the statues in 199 AD, inadvertently silenced them forever.