Standing guard for almost four millennia on the edge of the necropolis of Amenhotep III, near the Valley of the Kings, the colossi of Memnon rear above the sugar cane fields flanking the banks of the Nile, timeless sentinels to the majesty of the god-king.
On closer inspection, time is etched into the statues: one was cracked and partially toppled during an ancient earthquake and subsequently restored by the Romans, the other (shown here), is pitted and eroded by the environment itself.
I particularly enjoy the play on proportion and perspective provided by the life-size figures of the Pharaoh’s wife and mother, nestling like children against his lower legs.
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You’ve displayed well all categories here in one post.
It was a wonderful coincidence, wasn’t it! 🙂
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Nice shots, effective in black and white and good to see them in context in the first photo.
Yes – they’re best in context, I think. 🙂
Love to see the statues towering above the sugar cane 🙂
I love thinking of them standing there, surrounded by the cane fields through the millennia. Wiki recounts how floodwaters used to reach up to them, before the Aswan High Dam – how extraordinary that must have been.
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Oh the places you have seen…
This was a GREAT choice for the “perspective” challenge.
Thanks dear – they’re such exciting relics of the past, sitting there with life continuing around them.
A perfect choice for the three themes. Beautiful perspective of the sugar cane fields.
Thanx Amy- fun mixing all three challenges 🙂
The broad view really causes one to appreciate the gargantuan size of these creations!
Yes – you can’t imagine how huge they are without seeing them in their environment.
I loved the colossal statues of Egypt, Meredith. Your photos are really wonderful in black and white. 🙂
The colour in many of the slides was quite damaged for some reason, so I’ve found all my Egypt pix look far better in sepia or b/w than trying to fix the colour. 😦 Thrilling to see them, wasn’t it?
Yes, my Egypt photos aren’t digital either, and the colours aren’t great. I’d always wanted to go to Egypt, and was so happy I did. 🙂
I almost missed the figures at the sides of the Pharaoh. It is interesting that they would be the women in his life and that they are portrayed so significantly small next to him.
I suppose it’s also interesting that they’re even there – him considering himself a god and all … 🙂
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Perfect choice for the challenge Meredith. I always assumed that the queens were portrayed distinctly smaller to signify their lesser status (Nefertari alone is shown as equal in Abu Simbel). Your post makes me think it just might have been those ancient sculptors way to illustrate scale!!!
Interesting notion, isn’t it? 🙂
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wonderful timeless statues, and truly abandoned to the sugar cane … excellent subject for these thoughts … how did you come across them?
For some extraordinary reason the former Mr. TWLG and I rode donkeys from the ferry up to the Valley of the Kings (that’s not the sort of thing he liked to spend our meagre funds on!) and as we emerged from the cane fields there, ahead of us under the mountain, surrounded by another field of cane were those two figures. It was ‘mind blowing’ – the sensation of surprise and wonder so intense I can feel it now, as I tell you about it 🙂
how incredible … it did not look like the kind of site a tour bus arrives at! what a marvellous memory … like the time we were swimming along the Greek coast and came across marble columns under the water 🙂
Oh, wow! We never had that much luck … well, about ancient ruins, anyway! I understand the tourist buses roll up to the colossi nowadays. 🙂
Wow! Absolutely amazing!
They are, aren’t they! Thanks for dropping by Phil. 🙂
Wonderful photo and such a great response to the challenges, Meredith. Love that you were able to take photos both near and far. Visiting Egypt remains one of the highlights of my travels. To touch one of the Great Pyramids was a childhood fantasy realized.
So glad you were able to realise a dream, John. 🙂
Great shots… when were you in Egypt?
1976 🙂
Oh wow… I was thinking more recent 😉 I would love to go, but I know it isn’t so safe in recent years. That only shows that your pics are timeless…
That last shot is so evocative, Meredith. I love it! Just spotted these posts this morning 🙂
Extraordinary, isn’t it? So ancient and still sitting there being blasted by the elements. 🙂
Jo is right…that last shot is very evocative Meredith. Loved reading this and seeing these set out like this. Added a dimension to them
Beautiful shots I also love that statue. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome – glad you enjoyed seeing him 🙂
🙂
I love the way your photo shows the ancient statues rising over the sugar can field. This is a view you never get while watching a documentary.
Now, what an interesting observation! Glad you enjoyed the view from the back of a donkey 🙂
Did not know it was from a donkey ride. That is AWESOME! Makes me like to pic even more, thanks!
Yes, it was awesome 🙂
Splendid pictures. I’m reminded of the line: My name is Ozymandius, King of Kings.
You’re right Harry – it does seem to speak of Ozymandius doesn’t it?