Massive statues of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the Luxor Valley

Majestic ... the newly displayed statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye in Egypt's temple city of Luxor. Picture: Khaled Desouki Source: AFP

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unveiled two colossal statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt’s famed temple city of Luxor, adding to an existing pair of world-renowned tourist attractions.

The two monoliths in red quartzite were raised at what European and Egyptian archaeologists said were their original sites in the funerary temple of the king, on the west bank of the Nile.

The temple is already famous for its existing 3400-year-old Memnon colossi — twin statues of Amenhotep III whose reign archaeologists say marked the political and cultural zenith of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

Centuries old ... the two statues of pharaoh Amenhotep III were unveiled by archaeologists today in their original sites in the funerary temple of the king. Picture: Khaled Desouki Source: AFP

“The world until now knew two Memnon colossi, but from today it will know four colossi of Amenhotep III,’’ said German-Armenian archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian, who heads the project to conserve the Amenhotep III temple.

The existing two statues, both showing the pharaoh seated, are known across the globe.

Mindful restoration ... Egyptian archaeological workers stand next to a newly displayed alabaster head from an Amenhotep III. Picture: Khaled Desouki Source: AFP

The two restored additions have weathered severe damage for centuries, Sourouzian said.

“The statues had lain in pieces for centuries in the fields, damaged by destructive forces of nature like earthquake, and later by irrigation water, salt, encroachment and vandalism,’’ she said on Sunday, as behind her excavators and local villagers washed pieces of artefacts and statues unearthed over the past months.

Seat of kings ... The new statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye join the existing two famous ancient Memnon colossi in Luxor. Picture: Khaled Desouki Source: AFP

“This beautiful temple still has enough for us to study and conserve.’’

One of the “new’’ statues — its body weighing 250 tonnes — again depicts the pharaoh seated, hands resting on his knees.

It is 11.5 metres tall, with a base 1.5 metres high and 3.6 metres wide.

Archaeologists said with its now missing double crown, the original statue would have reached a height of 13.5 metres and weighed 450 tonnes.

The king is depicted wearing a royal pleated kilt held at the waist by a large belt decorated with zigzag lines.

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Tourism Ministry Sponsors 2nd Session of "India On Nile Banks" Festival in April

The Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Indian embassy in

Cairo and Ministry of Culture, will sponsor the second session of "India on Nile Banks" festival during the period from 1 to 20 April, 2014.

A huge music show titled "Bollywood... a story of love" will be organized in the Cairo Opera House during the period from 3 to 6 April, 2014. More than 35 male and female dancers will participate in the show.

During the festival, a number of activities will be organized with the purpose of showing various aspects of the Indian culture.

Tourism Minister Calls On Germans to Visit, Invest in Egypt

Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou said Egypt is a secure tourist destination which warmly welcomes its guests while taking many steps to promote security performance and improve the security situation.

Zaazou said in a press conference on the sidelines of the International Tourism Bourse held in Berlin that there are meetings and contacts with the interior minister to reach maximum security for the Egyptian citizens and for tourists in particular, noting that the Taba incident was a random one.

Egypt started a new phase after June 30 Revolution and is now implementing the road map which satisfies people's demands, and the democracy sought by Egyptians requires no exclusion of any faction from the political scene, including Muslim Brotherhood members but only those whose hands are not stained with blood, Zaazou said.

He called on Germans to support tourism in Egypt that greatly contributes to the economy and stressed the necessity for investments, especially German ones, to return to Egypt.

We respect the German government and we understand it is keen on the German citizens' lives, but there are objections on the warning which was issued suddenly, while, for example, the British government has not changed travel instructions to Egypt, he added.

This decision should have been taken after discussions with the Egyptian government, and warnings should be dealt with in coordination with Egyptian authorities.

After the German warning, 11 countries panicked and followed suit, which affected Egyptian tourism negatively, Zaazou said.

During the press conference, a film was screened featuring the diving destinations in Egypt and the wonderful Egyptian beaches, Nile cruises in Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, ancient landmarks and popular marketplaces.

Representatives of German tourism companies, tour operators and German airways officials along with Egypt's Ambassador to Germany Mohamed Hegazi attended the conference.