Colossus of Rameses II- Candid tips by Howard Hillman

Colossus of
Rameses II

Travel tips you can trust

Why the
Colossus of Rameses II
is special

The immense statue of the great 13th century Pharoah Rameses II is exquisitely sculpted.

Colossus of Rameses II
tips and insights

Actually, there is
a pair of them

One lies on its back (see photo) in a museum shelter near ancient Memphis. The other stands upright at the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

Memphis-area statue

It's in a prone position because the lower part of its legs are lost forever. One benefit is visitors can see the upper part of the body at close range.

It measures 10 meters (33 feet) in length - and this is without full legs.

The site is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Cairo, making it an easy daytrip. Combine the trip with the relatively nearby Step Pyramid of Djoser and the Alabaster Sphinx.

Grand Egyptian Museum statue

This one can stand erect because it has its full legs. With them, it rises 11 meters (36 feet).

Original location

Both stood three millennia ago in front of a Ptah Temple gate in Memphis, which was once a capital of Egypt. They were discovered by the Italian archaeologist Giovanni Caviglia in 1820. Being buried in sand helped preserve them.

Nearly exported

The ruler Mohammed Ali donated the Memphis-area statue to the British Museum. It had to decline the generous gift because it was too large and heavy for safe transporting to London.

Location in Egypt