The History and Legend of the Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon, situated on the western shore of ancient Thebes (Waset), mark the entrance pylon of Amenhotep III‘s Temple of Millions of Years.

Forming part of the funerary temple of one of the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt, the colossi have their own history and legend, which has made them famous beyond the borders of the Two Lands.

The history of the colossi of Amenhotep III

Although they now appear fragmented, both colossi are sculptures made from a single block of quartzite, believed to have been extracted from the Gebel el-Ahmar quarries near Cairo (about 20 km north of ancient Memphis).

These impressive statues represent Amenhotep III himself, the ninth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty (who reigned ca. 1391-1353 BC). In ancient times, they marked the entry point of the monarch’s funerary temple, which stretched for almost 1km in length, starting at the first pylon behind the colossi.

The colossi, nearly 20 m high and about 1,000 T, show the monarch seated on a throne, with his arms on his legs, wearing the Neme headdress and skirt pleated.

Next to the legs of both Amenhotep III statues, we see the representation of several women in the north colossus. The one on the right appears to be Mutemwiya, the mother of the King. In the south, we see Amenhotep III accompanied by his wife, Tiye, and one of his daughters, whose name we do not know.

Two gods of the Nile are represented on the sides of the throne, uniting the symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lotus and the papyrus, in what is known as Sema-Tawy, the union of the Two Lands.

The creation of the colossi is attributed to “Men”, who was the “chief sculptor of the great monument of the king on the red mountain”.

We have the colossi, but what happened to the Temple of Millions of Years of Amenhotep III?

The answer is easy: it is the largest funerary temple in Thebes, and for its construction, stone and adobe bricks were used for the most part.

This material, together with the fact that the temple was located in the floodplain, made the building. It had already begun to deteriorate in ancient times when it stopped receiving adequate attention. The waters that arrived with the flood of the Nile were slowly undoing the mud bricks with which the temple was built.

In addition to this, there was an earthquake in 1,200 BC that damaged the building.

After this earthquake, several monarchs after the great Amenhotep used the stones of his temple for their own constructions. We imagine that they were scattered around the enclosure after the earthquake.

And now we are faced with a new question: why build a temple in the flood zone? For pure symbology.

When building the temple here, it was intended that the Nile’s waters would reach it with the flood year after year. The entire temple, except for the sanctuary – which would have been built on a mound – would have been flooded during the flooding of the river.

This way, when the flood receded, the temple literally represented the emergence of the world, and life, among the primeval waters of creation (this is how the ancient Egyptians believed that the appearance of the world had taken place for the first time, with a mound of earth that arose between the waters of the Nun, the original ocean).

The Colossi of Memnon and their legend

Now, we have to ask ourselves where the name of the colossi of Amenhotep III comes from since Memnon does not refer to any Egyptian story, but to Greek.

In addition to the earthquake of 1,200 BC, we know that there was a new earthquake in 27 BC in Thebes, recorded by the Greek geographer Strabo (64 BC – 21 AD).

The City and its temples suffered the consequences, as well as our colossi, particularly the northern colossus since, from this shake. The northern statue emitted some singular sounds.

Every morning, with the sunrise over the horizon, the northern colossus began to “groan”. This made quite a claim among Greek and Roman travelers, who believed that these “laments” brought good luck to anyone who heard them.

Thus, from this moment, many arrive in Thebes wanting to listen to the ancient Egyptian giant (currently, these sounds are attributed to the change in temperature and humidity suffered by the stones of the colossus at sunrise, which would make them emit these particular noises when the wind passed through its cracks at certain times).

And here the legend begins; due to these moans, the Greeks associated the northern colossus with the Greek Memnon.

The giant’s laments did not last long since, in the year 199 AD, the Roman emperor Septimius Severus wanted to fill in the gaps in the sculptures in an attempt to improve the appearance of the colossi.

This restoration caused the sounds to cease, forever silencing the “groans” that made the statues of Amenhotep III so famous, which, in their day, flanked the entrance to the largest and richest of all the mortuary temples of Thebes.

Source: https://historicaleve.com/history-and-lege...

Divers Uncover Ancient Temple Submerged Within The ‘Egyptian Atlantis’

The remnants of the ancient submarine temple were found in the ancient sunken town of Heracleion, off the north coast of Egypt, identified as the Atlantic of Egypt.

About 1,200 years ago the town sank into the sea but after it was discovered 2,000 marine archaeologists have been probing to uncover new parts of the settlements.

In the most recent discovery, Egyptian and European divers uncovered the ruin of a temple along with several boats holding treasures like bronze coins and jewellery.

Using a sophisticated scanning device, they revealed a new part of the city’s main temple, which has been completely destroyed. Remains of a smaller Greek temple, complete with ancient columns was found along with pottery from the third and fourth centuries B.C.E.

The bronze coins were from the reign of King Ptolemy II (283 to 246 BCE). Archaeologists also stretched their map of Canopus—another sunken settlement close to Heracleion.

They found the remains of several buildings, expanding the city by about two-thirds of a mile along with gold and bronze coins as well as jewellery including rings and earrings.

The team believe the artefacts date from the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 to 30 B.C.E) to the time of the Byzantine Empire, which began in 330 C.E. Researchers also investigated some of the many ancient ships known to exist at the site.

They found treasures including crockery, coins and jewellery in one now fully-excavated vessel. The team believe the wreck dates from the fourth century B.C.

The city of Heracleion, home of the temple where Cleopatra was inaugurated, was one of the most important trade centres in the Mediterranean area before it disappeared into what is now the Bay of Aboukir.

But 12 years ago, underwater archaeologist Dr Franck Goddio was searching the Egyptian coastline for French warships from the 18th century battle of the Nile, but instead stumbled across the treasures of the lost city.

After removing layers of sand and mud, divers discovered evidence of extraordinary wealth, painting a picture of what life was like in Heracleion, believed to have been at the centre of Mediterranean trade more than 1,000 years ago.

Although it was mentioned in classical texts, Heracleion lay undisturbed beneath the waters of Abu Qir Bay until it was mapped in 2000. Researchers spent four years charting the city, known as Thonis in Egypt, according to the lead researcher Franck Goddio.

After more than a decade of excavation, researchers were able to create a map depicting life in the ancient trade hub.

The research team, led by Dr Goddio have yet to establish what caused the city to go down, but the main theory is that the unstable sediments Heracleion was built on collapsed, and in combination with a rising sea-levels, may have caused the entire area to drop 12 feet straight into the water.

‘We are just at the beginning of our research,’ Dr Goddio told the Telegraph in 2013.

’We will probably have to continue working for the next 200 years.’

Source: https://archaeology-world.com/divers-uncov...

The Vatican Discovers What No One Was Supposed to See

Surrounded by a 2-mile border within Italy, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, with just over 100 acres of land. And yet, it is among the most powerful and influential countries on the entire planet. But as much as it is the location of the seat of the Papacy, it is also a hub of controversy.

Let’s unravel the mysteries of one of the most secretive city-states in the world.

From the Vatican and the Holocaust to the secret confession tribunal, here are 15 secrets the Vatican doesn’t want you to know!

20 Mythical Creatures That Were Only Seen Once

Legends of monsters, beasts, and strange looking animals have existed since the dawn of storytelling. But who is to say what’s real and what’s been forgotten? From tales of Dragons on each continent to amazing pictures of a real mermaid, here are 20 Mythical Creatures That Were Only Seen Once.

12 Most Unexpected And Amazing Archaeological Finds

There are times when archaeologists go looking for one thing but end up finding something entirely different. There are also times when amazing archaeological discoveries are made completely by accident. Both events make for great stories, and we've got some fabulous tales of unexpected discoveries packed into this video - plus some plain and simple great archaeological finds!

Joe Rogan: Archeologists Are Lying About Ancient Technology Used

Joe Rogan, Jimmy Corsetti & Ben van Kerkwyk talk about how archeologists are denying the fact that there were more advanced technology used years ago to build large structures like the pyramids.

Jimmy Corsetti is the independent researcher behind "Bright Insight" where he talks about ancient mysteries and theories about lost civilizations and what happened to them. Ben van Kerkwyk is an Australian researcher, writer and content creator. He produces the UnchartedX.com website and UnchartedX youtube channel and podcast, producing long-form documentaries on various topics dealing with ancient mysteries.

Uncovering a Massive Napoleonic Mystery on the Russian Dance Floor

In this video scientists embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries of two remarkable finds. First, they dig up a Russian dance floor that was buried for centuries and explore the cultural significance behind its intricate design. The team uses state-of-the-art technology to analyze the ancient artifact and uncover its story.

Next, they untangle a massive Napoleonic knot, which was one of the most challenging puzzles of the 18th century. With the help of experts in knot-tying, they unravel the secrets of the knot's construction and learn about the brilliant mind that created it. Join us on this exciting adventure as we delve into the past and uncover the fascinating stories behind these intriguing artifacts. Get ready to be amazed as we show you "When Scientists Dug Up A Russian Dance Floor, And Scientists Untangled A Massive Napoleonic."

Exploring Knossos | Minotaur's Labyrinth, Megalithic Mysteries & the Snake Goddess

Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city. Settled as early as the Neolithic period it eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace was abandoned at the end of the Late Bronze Age, c.1380–1100 BC. The site is famous for the mythical labyrinth associated with its inventor Daedalus, King Minos, Princess Ariadne, and Theseus of Athens, as well as the megalithic 'Horns of Consecration' and the remarkable Throne Room. Numerous snake-goddesses, giant double-axes and other stunning artefacts have also been found. It was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos, and the excavations began in 1900 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851–1941) and his team, and continued for 35 years. It is an enormous assemblage of 800 rooms, originally covered with magnificent frescoes, occupying several acres, with an earlier megalithic, cyclopean foundation. Includes exclusive aerial footage.

THE REAL EGYPT: Off the Beaten Path

Leaving aside the common tourist routes, David Miano and Natalie Hilder venture deep into the Nile Delta, looking for ancient remains from the now-extinct cities of Sais, Buto, and Xois. See Egypt as you have never seen it before.

Recent Discovery: аn Advanced Civilization Hidden in Antarctica

Step pyramids are a mysterious architectural wonder which is now birthing many conspiracy theories. You will find step pyramids in different parts of the world. According to traditional history, all these architectural Marvels were built by different civilizations, and even in terms of timeline, they are thousands of years apart. Still, the architectural style is so similar that it has led to the belief that these were built by well-equipped representatives of an advanced civilization, like 20th-century people.

What strengthened this assumption was an observatory of a pyramid in Antarctica. It was assumed to be a pyramid but later discovered that it was just a tip of an iceberg. Accurate mapping of Antarctica's coastline, which is now hidden by ice, satellite images showing the metropolis of Antarctica and hundreds of other pieces of evidence point fingers at the advanced ancient civilization.

Imagine a world buried deep beneath the icy tundra of Antarctica, where the remnants of an advanced civilization lay hidden from the modern world. With its mysterious technology and advanced architecture, this long-forgotten society has been recently uncovered in a ground-breaking discovery that is set to shake the foundations of history as we know it.

Today we will discuss the mystery behind the advanced civilization in Antarctica!

12 Most Amazing Recent Ancient Artifacts Finds

What’s old is new again in the world of archaeology. That’s true of pretty much everything archaeologists find, but there’s nothing that excites archaeologists more than a new discovery. There’s nothing that excites archaeology fans more than a new discovery either, so let’s check a few of the best recent finds out together!

What they Captured in a Desert Shocked the Whole World

Deserts are truly mysterious places. It’s easy to imagine them as huge wastelands where nothing ever happens, but you might be surprised to learn that there’s a lot more going on in deserts than that. In fact we are uncovering more and more secrets about these sandy places as time goes on! From the strange glass that is blowing everyone’s minds to the brand new dinosaur species, here’s the 20 Strangest Things Found In The Desert.

The Hidden World Beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Following more than a decade of international and national planning and an intense week of on-ice weather delays, Priscu led the field team successfully drilled through the overlying ice sheet and sampled directly the waters and sediments of a lake hidden beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. The groundbreaking exploration of Antarctica's subglacial environment marks the beginning of a new era in polar science, opening the window for future interdisciplinary scientific investigations of one of Earth's last unexplored frontiers.

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Insane training to become a Templar Knight! Would you have made it mentally or physically?

Intense fighting, tactical, brave and devout Christian brother hood! We know the history but would you have what it takes to make it? There were many other challenges they had to undertake.

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In today's video we look at What it took to become a TEMPLAR KNIGHT.