The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project directed by Hourig Sourouzian and Kathrin Gabler in cooperation with site manager Nairy Hampikian pursued works in the Temple of Millions of Years of Amenhotep III at Thebes from 2 January to 6 March 2025.
On the site now dry to ca. 3 meters below the ground surface as a result of the successful dewatering system applied during the previous seasons, works were focused on the preparatory operations for the lifting of the two alabaster colossal statues of Amenhotep III in their original location at the gate of the Third Pylon. After years of investigations, documentation and conservation of all alabaster fragments of the colossi and the granodiorite fragments of their pedestals, the following final investigations were conducted as final preparation for the re-erection of the colossi: Conservation activities concerning the alabaster and granodiorite fragments went on and were nearly finalized by the conservators Hassan Demerdash and Sayed Haggag with their teams, authors of matches and groupings over the past 15 years, while all transportation and lifting works were directed by Rais Mohamed Aly El-Ghassab; final archaeological investigations at the gateway of the Third Pylon and clearance of the foundations of the colossal sculptures were led by Carmen Lopez Roa and her crew; Nairy Hampikian with her team of architects (Aisam Magdy, Yousef Nabil, Sumayya Osman and Radwa Muhsin) finalized the full documentation of all alabaster and granodiorite fragments, from 2D mapping to 3D printing; the Egyptologists confirmed the location of the surviving granodiorite blocks of the pedestals, geologist Prof. Hafez Shamseldin assessed the material of the Egyptian alabaster and finally, the head conservator Benjamin Blaisot formulated his final vision for the raising the colossi. After the continuous brainstorming between the multidisciplinary team members coordinated by Nairy Hampikian, a final dossier was presented to engineer Mohamed El-Esawy, who has accordingly prepared the structural drawings supporting the alabaster and granodiorite fragments. This was followed by an onsite final brainstorming around the 1:33 scaled 3D model of the reconstructed colossi and bases, where the head conservator and the structural engineer reached to the concluding structural issues. Having decided on the road map for the coming season, the contractor Salah Abu-Aziza started to pour the underground layers of concrete foundation, as well as the above ground layer, which will host the granodiorite blocks. Thereafter, arrangements on the terrain were made around the Third Pylon in preparation for the manipulations of the 300-ton crane, which will raise the granodiorite blocks of the bases and the alabaster fragments of the colossi to their intended locations, that included the re-arrangement of the slope leading to the site to ease the access of the crane.
Finally, conservation processes were undertaken at the First and Second Pylons, with new joins on the colossi of Memnon, such as the joining of the pieces of the right arm of the southern colossus to be displayed near its plinth, as well as joins on the colossi of the Second Pylon, where a small archaeological sounding was done by Armine Hayrapetyan around the four small column bases (to be continued during the next season). In the second court, between the two pylons, all pieces of alabaster, quartzite and sandstone were re-examined, their documentation checked and completed by documentation team led by Linda Chapon and Maria Franco Gonzalez. The inscribed and decorated pieces stored, while all unform pieces and splinters without any worked surface were filled in large iron gabions along the southern border of the court.
The Engineering Department of the SCA and the Inspectorate of Gurna installed an electric transformer on the northeastern border of the site near the main pump station of the dewatering system: we thank them very warmly for this most valuable achievement to the future of the site.

Works were made possible thanks to AEF/American Research Center in Egypt and to the generous grant by of Dr. Marjorie Fisher. Auxiliary grants were made available by the World Monuments Fund and the Fondation Gandur pour l’Art.

12.06.2025 at 18:30: Lecture by Hourig Sourouzian held at the JGU Mainz and organised by the Freundeskreis Ägyptologie. More information…