23rd November 2014
Amenhotep III Mortuary Temple – Memnon - Ongoing Work
Yesterday at the Marsam, I met up with Hourig Sourouzian, the Project leader of the Amenhotep III site. We both enjoyed a mutual warm-hearted welcoming and chatted about this seasons work. I told Hourig that the RAMASES Society in the UK was successful in raising a nice amount of money for her project and that when she is given the envelope, that I hope it’s a fat one. Hourig thanked me and said that Lynda and Barbara (my sister and RAMASES Secretary) are two lovely ladies and said that we are welcome to visit the site at any time.
You can financially support this site by kindly making a donation. As it is by the roadside, you can keep an eye on its progress. Please leave a comment on my Home Page for details as to how you can do this.
Hourig and two other archaeologists told me that from November to January, they will be concentrating on the raising of a second colossi next to the one they raised last year at the North of the site, also the missing arm pieces of the colossi nearest to the road at the Memnon. The photo shows what I believe to be, them looking for a missing arm piece. From January onwards, their work will be on the main site at the Memnon.
Amenhotep III Mortuary Temple – Memnon - Ongoing Work
Yesterday at the Marsam, I met up with Hourig Sourouzian, the Project leader of the Amenhotep III site. We both enjoyed a mutual warm-hearted welcoming and chatted about this seasons work. I told Hourig that the RAMASES Society in the UK was successful in raising a nice amount of money for her project and that when she is given the envelope, that I hope it’s a fat one. Hourig thanked me and said that Lynda and Barbara (my sister and RAMASES Secretary) are two lovely ladies and said that we are welcome to visit the site at any time.
You can financially support this site by kindly making a donation. As it is by the roadside, you can keep an eye on its progress. Please leave a comment on my Home Page for details as to how you can do this.
Hourig and two other archaeologists told me that from November to January, they will be concentrating on the raising of a second colossi next to the one they raised last year at the North of the site, also the missing arm pieces of the colossi nearest to the road at the Memnon. The photo shows what I believe to be, them looking for a missing arm piece. From January onwards, their work will be on the main site at the Memnon.
Here, you can see the base parts of the next colossi to be raised at the North site.
5th November 2014
5th November 2014
They have started to erect the scaffolding that will be used to build and raise the second colossi.
Seeking the missing parts in a water drenched pit.
You can see here just how deep the base stone is that supports the colossi
8th November 2014
The pit is now empty and all the found arm pieces are now drying out.
I will be interesting to see how they will fit the arm pieces together and to see where these two pieces will go.
9th November 2014
10th November 2014
15th November 2014
18th November 2014
One part of this colossus is 40 tones and two other parts are 20 tones each. The newly erected colossi will be just a little shorter than its neighbour.
25th November 2014
30th November 2014
My sister and friends have been here on holiday. They are all members of the RAMASES Egyptology society in Kent, UK. My sister and Barbara (the secretary of the society) spent the summer organizing fund raising events and put together a nice amount of money. We presented Hourig, the project leader, with an envelope at the Amenhotep site. Hourig was kind enough to walk us around the site and explain the work going on there.
As I live here on the West Bank, I am privileged to be able to pass the site on almost daily bases and to see the progress being made. It’s a wonderful site and I enjoy very much meeting the team each year. It is very easy to remember what this site looked like on my first visit back in 2004. Just a field.
2nd December 2014
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Today they raised and lifted the head onto the body of the second colossi at the North site of Amenhotep III - West Bank. It looks fantastic and both together, they give a new view and land mark for everyone to see. The work going on here and at the Memnon is amazing. The team leader is Hourig Sourouzian. Hourig and her senior Archaeologists are always helpful to give information on what is going on.
I help to support this project financially and you can also. Details available on request.
7th December 2014
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Final touches are being put to the newly raised colossi. These colossi face north as it was the north gate of Amenhotep III Temple site; just like those at the Luxor Temple.
Part of the foundation block has been put back in place.
9th December 2014
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Preparations being make to attach the missing arm parts to the colossi at the Memnon. The colossus has been viewed by many hundreds of thousands of people with part of its right arm missing. What an achievement and how wonderful to see it more complete. The work being done at this site is truly on a monumental scale not seen anywhere else on the West bank.
Completed Colossi
15th December 2014
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New Wall
The wall will hopefully encompass the entire site
28th December 2014
A very nice style of wall with information boards and a gallery that allows tourists and passers by to see the work going on at this site and .
22nd January 2015
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First day back at site since Christmas break. There are many workers on the Memnon site now continuing their excavations. It will be exciting to see their work progress during this season.
Here in this pit are more colossi parts. I have been told that there will eventually be six colossi on this site.
Conservators will rebuild this statue from pieces found around.
26th January 2015
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They are preparing scaffolding so that they can fit further parts back to this colossi.
29th January 2015
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I had a wonderful chat with one of the Archaeologists working at the site. They have further work to do on the two newly erected colossi at the North Gate. He tells me that they have further pieces to attach to the East colossi. As it was buried the deepest, it was more preserved. With the West colossi, it was not the case and was not in as good condition. There are still further parts to the West colossi in the farmer’s field that at the moment they have no access to, how frustrating. They are in the process of building a low mud brick wall around the two colossi.
29th January 2015
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I had a wonderful chat with one of the Archaeologists working at the site. They have further work to do on the two newly erected colossi at the North Gate. He tells me that they have further pieces to attach to the East colossi. As it was buried the deepest, it was more preserved. With the West colossi, it was not the case and was not in as good condition. There are still further parts to the West colossi in the farmer’s field that at the moment they have no access to, how frustrating. They are in the process of building a low mud brick wall around the two colossi.
There are many other statues at the Memnon site that they are working on and rebuilding. For me, this is one of the most exciting sites being worked on where I am able to see the progress on a daily basis.
On this statue, they have had the head and feet there for quite sometime. Now they are fitting together the centre section.
13th February 2015
13th February 2015
The walls around these two colossi are to resemble the layout of the North Gate.
15th February 2015
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How good does it get? No better I think.
I stopped by, as I very often do, to take a look at the Amenhotep III site at the Memnon and to see the ongoing progress. I stood at the viewing gallery between sections of the newly built wall by the road. I stood there for quite some time taking in the view of the many people, all specialists in their own professional fields. It was a great opportunity to watch these people doing their detailed work and to get an idea of what is developing and how it might look in the near future.
Rarely does any site offer this facility where you can watch and learn about excavation and restoration, to watch something that starts from small and ends up complete or gigantic as many of the colossi have. I think this is the only site. If you are passing by, then do stop to take a look at this projects development and learn what goes on here on the West bank in Luxor.
A great thanks to Hourig Sourouzian (Project Leader) for giving us all this wonderful opportunity.
15th February 2015
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How good does it get? No better I think.
I stopped by, as I very often do, to take a look at the Amenhotep III site at the Memnon and to see the ongoing progress. I stood at the viewing gallery between sections of the newly built wall by the road. I stood there for quite some time taking in the view of the many people, all specialists in their own professional fields. It was a great opportunity to watch these people doing their detailed work and to get an idea of what is developing and how it might look in the near future.
Rarely does any site offer this facility where you can watch and learn about excavation and restoration, to watch something that starts from small and ends up complete or gigantic as many of the colossi have. I think this is the only site. If you are passing by, then do stop to take a look at this projects development and learn what goes on here on the West bank in Luxor.
A great thanks to Hourig Sourouzian (Project Leader) for giving us all this wonderful opportunity.
24th February 2015
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Sekhmet Statue.
Breaking News. Sekhmet Statue found at Amenhotep III Mortuary Temple at the Memnon. This site never ceases to amaze me, they are always finding new items on a constant bases. The site is very exciting to see, as there are many workers, many professionals in their own fields all going about their daily tasks. It is a place where you can just watch with amazement as you look around the entire site seeing the men at work.
Cleaning work in progress
Restoration work to base of third colossi erected.
6th March 2015
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Parts to be re-fitted to one of the original colossi
Another huge piece of a colossi to be lifted from the pit where it was found. Perhaps the fourth colossi to stand at this site.
12th March 2015
Raising Part of Fourth Colossi.
Here they are raising a part of the fourth colossi. They use airbags and winch to move it into position, filling in with soil for steadiness until the part is standing level. It’s an amazing achievement by the workforce. So far, they have only found the bottom half of this colossi but I am quite confident that the rest of it lies around somewhere.
15th March 2015
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Part of Fourth Colossi is erected.
This is a misleading photo. The third colossi to be erected, is in the background, visible only by the shoulder and head. The part of the fourth colossi is only up to the hands on the knees. This is all that they have of this colossus at the moment. It is believed that the rest of it lies around nearby somewhere. On this fourth part, you can see the Queen at the front.
21st March 2015
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This week they have been working on building another section of roadside wall at the Memnon. Today it was uncovered and finished. It is yet another very nicely built wall with information poster boards and a viewing gallery. I like very much the attitude of this site where they provide the facility to allow people to see the work going on. No other sites afford this pleasant facility. Again, this is another reason why this is my favorite archaeology site.
24th March 2015
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The season has come to an end. I said my farewells to Hourig and her team. A great well done for what they have achieved this season. From the erecting of the North Gate colossi, the third and fourth colossi at the Memnon, the building of two sections of roadside walls along with galleries and the discovery of another Sekhmet statue. So many other areas of work have been done and with the piecing together of many smaller statues and so on.
The site is particularly looking tidy with lots of new mud brick reconstruction going on and continued excavations. There is never a dull day here and now you can watch what is going on from the two new galleries along with poster boards. I will miss the activity at this site and will have to wait until November for their return to a new season
Last pictures of the season
30th April 2015
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All quiet at the site.
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All quiet at the site.