Big Picture : Colossi

These are The Colossi of Memnon and are part of the Theban Necropolis on the Eastern side of the Nile across of Luxor. My wife and I visited the area on our Honeymoon in 1992 and did all the normal touristy things like the Vally of the Kings, Luxor temple etc. But it was the Colossi that had the biggest impression on me. Despite their time (and earthquake) ravaged appearance they are truly awesome to behold.

From The Big Picture

The Colossi depict the Pharaoh Amenhotep III (14th century BC) and originally guarded the entrance to his massive mortuary temple complex. The name The Colossi of Memnon is probably of Roman origin. Memnon was the King of Ethiopia and a hero of the Trojan War. He was known as Ruler of the Dawn, and in ancient times the Eastern Colossus reputedly sang in the early morning heat. The Voice of Memnon was probably caused by evaporating water escaping from cracks in the rocks and was last heard in the second century AD.