Two Colossal Statues of Amenhotep III Reinstalled in Luxor’s West Bank

Two colossal alabaster statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III have been raised at the Temple of Millions of Years n Luxor’s West Bank, nearly two decades after restoration work began. The statues, each measuring more than 13 metres high and carved from local alabaster, were originally part of Amenhotep III’s mortuary complex near the Colossi of Memnon but had fallen into ruin after centuries of damage. Over the past two decades, archaeologists have excavated, documented and restored hundreds of fragmented elements. The result is the reassembly and upright placement of the statues at their original location as part of a long-running conservation programme. The project is led by a joint European–Egyptian archaeological team under the supervision of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with significant participation from international partners. Restoration work has involved detailed scientific analysis, careful documentation, and the use of conservation materials compatible with the original stone to ensure long-term preservation in Luxor’s environmental conditions. The statues depict Amenhotep III seated in a traditional royal posture, with hands on his thighs, wearing the nemes headdress and other symbols of kingship. Their return to the temple precinct enhances understanding of the original layout of the mortuary complex and offers visitors a more complete sense of the scale and presence of the pharaoh’s funerary architecture.