Two newest Amenhotep III statues uncovered

On Sunday, March 23, 2014, archaeologists back to reveal the two colossal statues of pharaoh Amenhotep III in ancient Egyptian temple city, Luxor. Both red quartzite monolith, according to archaeologists from Europe and Egypt, were on the original site in the temple where the king was buried, on the west bank of the Nile.

Colossi of Memnon in Egypt's temple city of Luxor. (Picture from: http://descrier.co.uk/)

During this time, the 3,400-year-old Colossi of Memnon temple was already well known for the presence of twin statues of Amenhotep III, which according to archaeologists is the culmination of the politics and culture of ancient Egypt.

"The world knows about the two Colossi of Memnons, but today the world knows there are four colossi of Amenhotep III," said Hourig Sourrouzian, a descendant of German-Armenian archaeologist who became the leader of the Amenhotep III temple project.

Two statues that had already been well-known in the world shows the Pharaoh in sit position. Two new sculptures later revealed that he was not on sit position to sit and have severely damaged the centuries.

Tourists and journalists stand next to a newly displayed statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye (Down) in Egypt's temple city of Luxor on March 23, 2014. Two colossal statues of pharaoh Amenhotep III were unveiled by archaeologists today in their original sites in the funerary temple of the king, on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, adding to the existing two famous ancient Memnon colossi. (Picture from: http://www.nation.co.ke/)

"The statues damaged over the centuries by natural causes, such as earthquakes, water irrigation, encroachment, and destruction," said Sourrouzian. One of the newest statues it-weighs about 250 tons-depicting Pharaoh sitting on his knees.

This statue has a height of 11.5 meters, with a platform height of 1.5 meters and 3.5 meters wide. When the missing crown are added in this statue, it will reach a height of 13.5 meters and weighing 450 tons.

Archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian, who heads the project to conserve the Amenhotep III temple, stands next to a newly displayed alabaster head. (Picture from: http://www.smh.com.au/)

In this statue, King of Egypt depicted wearing a sort of typical royal pleated skirt, with a large belt at waist with zig-zag line. On the right foot of statue, standing almost complete figure of Amenhotep III wife, Tiye.

Tiye wearing big wigs and tight long dresses. One more statue should be in the left leg of Amenhotep III, namely his mother, the queen mother Mutemya. The throne statues are decorated with the scenes from the past of Egypt, that showing the union of upstream and downstream regions of Egypt.

And the second statue shows the pharaoh Amenhotep III in standing position at the temple main gate. Archaeologists also shows several other pieces of ancient sculpture. According to them, these pieces depict the ancient rulers and their relatives.

One of the pieces of the statue is a well-preserved alabaster head of another statue of Amenhotep III. "This section is unique, very rare, because there are not many alabaster sculpture in the world," said Sourouzian told to AFP.

Pieces of the statue's head is shown briefly to a few reporters have also passed centuries damage. Near the location of the head, there is also a statue of Princess Iset, daughter of Amenhotep III.

Sourouzian said, her team goal is to preserve the monuments and temples. She said that the archaeological heritage because of natural and human suffering. "Any ruins, every monument, has a right to be treated with courtesy," said Sourouzian. She said, that the great idea of her team is to stop the demolition of monuments and maintain the site. According to Sourouzian, work as she does just need a stable international funding. She also said that her work is now funded by international private donations.

Amenhotep III was the ruler of the kingdom that stretched from the Euphrates River to the Sudan. The archaeologist added that his power in Egypt last a long time because of his diplomatic abilities. Rulers became king at the age of about 12, with his mother as regent.

Amenhotep III died in about 1354 BC and was succeeded by his son, Amenhotep IV, is widely known as Akhenaten. Luxor, a city which has a population of about 500,000 people on the banks of the Nile River in southern Egypt, is an open air museum consisting of a temple complex and the pharaoh's tomb. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE SIDNEY MORNING HERALD]

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