Royal pair found near Colossi of Memnon
Egypt, History, 4/25/2002

An Egyptian-German team of archaeologists has unearthed two colossi, King Amenhotep III and an unidentified queen, at Kom Al-Hitan, on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor.

The Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni said that Kom Al-Hitan is the site of a temple built by Amenhotep III, father of Akhenaten.

Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) said that the team, who has been working on the site since 1998, found the statues during excavations at a temple at a location near the Colossi of Memnon.

Several statues had been discovered on the site a few years ago, but the team has succeeded in removing them from their centuries-old resting place, Dr Hawass said, adding that the biggest surprises were the most recent finds.

The right half of the red granite statue of Amenhotep III was found at the second pylon of the king's funeral temple. Directly behind the king lay the head of a queen with the traditional pharaonic wig and the forehead adorned with the sacred snake. The lower part of the queen's statue on a rectangular pedestal was also found. Hawass said that this lower portion had been finely carved.

The site of the temple of Amenhotep III is commonly known as Kom Al Hitan, which is listed among the one hundred monuments that are in danger. Work is under way in the temple courtyard to identify the remaining masses of carved stones.

Previous Stories:
  New archaeological find in Luxor   (4/17/2002)
  Saint Catherine listed as world heritage site   (4/16/2002)
  Kalabsha temple to be opened for visitors in October   (4/15/2002)

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