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Hallazgo e historia

Hallazgo e historia presents the colossal head of Amenhotep III, also known as the granite colossal head of Amenhotep III. The sculpture was carved around 1350 BC during Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty and depicts Nebmaatra Amenhotep, Amenhotep III, or Amenophis III, an important pharaoh who ruled from 1390 to 1353 BC. It is made of granite and measures 287 centimeters in height. The statue is now broken into two pieces, the head and the arm, both preserved in the British Museum.

Colossal granite head of Amenhotep III displayed on a white pedestal in a museum
Colossal head of Amenhotep III, a damaged granite royal sculpture displayed in the British Museum.
· CC BY-SA 3.0
Colossal head of Amenhotep III displayed on a white pedestal in a museum gallery, with a smaller stone fragment beside it.
The colossal head of Amenhotep III on display in a museum interior.
February 2023 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colossal head of Amenhotep III displayed on a pedestal in a museum gallery.
The colossal head of Amenhotep III on display in a museum gallery.
· CC BY-SA 3.0
Sepia photograph of the Colossal Head of Amenhotep III, shown on a tiered pedestal with a tall crown and uraeus cobra emblem.
The Colossal Head of Amenhotep III displayed on a tiered pedestal.
1887 © · No restrictions
Colossal head of Amenhotep III with a tall crown and damaged neck, displayed on a base.
The Colossal Head of Amenhotep III, shown in black and white with its tall crown and damaged lower section.
© · CC BY 4.0
Colossal Head of Amenhotep III with a speckled stone arm displayed on supports in the foreground.
The Colossal Head of Amenhotep III is shown with a separate stone arm in the foreground, both displayed in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery.
July 2017 © · CC0
Colossal head of Amenhotep III displayed on a pedestal in a museum gallery, with a large stone fragment beside it.
The colossal head of Amenhotep III on display in a British Museum gallery, alongside a large stone fragment.
September 2010 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colossal head of Amenhotep III displayed in a museum hall beside a separate ancient Egyptian torso fragment.
The colossal head of Amenhotep III on display in a museum, with another fragmentary statue torso nearby.
December 2023 © · CC BY 2.0
Granite head of Amenhotep III with a damaged crown and a missing section below the mouth
The Colossal Head of Amenhotep III, shown in close-up with visible wear and breakage.
· CC BY-SA 2.0
Colossal Head of Amenhotep III seen from below, showing the back of the stone sculpture and a partial ear.
The Colossal Head of Amenhotep III viewed from a low angle, with the sculpture’s back and partial ear visible.
· CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleColossal red granite statue of Amenhotep III
TypeColossal statue
Alternative titleColossal head of Amenhotep III; colossal granite head of Amenhotep III

Historical context

Cultural styleAncient Egyptian art
Interpretive noteThe monument illustrates the later usurpation of earlier royal statues through modification and re-inscription
Period18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt
Datec. 1370 BC

Creator

AttributionBelieved to have been erected by Amenhotep III himself
Attribution noteAt discovery it was initially attributed to Thutmose III
CreatorAmenhotep III

Discovery and provenance

FindspotTemple enclosure of Mut at Karnak, Upper Egypt
Discovery year1817
Discovered byGiovanni Battista Belzoni and Henry William Beechey
Possible original locationTemple of Mut at Karnak or Amenhotep III's funerary temple at Kom el-Hitan on the west bank of the Nile
Related workThe Colossi of Memnon
Associated siteAncient Thebes

Physical characteristics

Height287 cm
ConditionBroken into two pieces; only the head and an arm survive
Preserved partsHead and arm
Head height2.9 m
HeadgearPschent (double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt)

Materials

MaterialRed granite

Technique

Later modificationThe head was altered in the time of Ramesses II to resemble him

Appearance

Facial featuresThe corners of the mouth were carved to suggest a slight, peaceful smile
Facial featuresHeavy black eye makeup was rendered

Location and ownership

Catalogue numberEA 15
Acquisition methodPurchased at auction
Display locationRoom 4 of the British Museum
Current locationBritish Museum, London
Previous ownerHenry Salt
Acquired fromHenry Salt
Acquisition year1823
OwnershipBritish Museum
Display statusOn permanent display

History and restoration

Head findspotIn front of the temple of Khonsupakhered
Transport routeTaken to Luxor on the Nile, then upriver to Alexandria and on to London
Transport time to Luxor8 days
Distance to Luxor1.6 km
Temporary storageHouse of Mr. Rossi in Cairo
Arm findspotNot recorded; probably found with the head
Earlier identificationA head of Horus
Original condition at discoveryBroken into fragments