My Holiday (part 7)

Today was another early start but only 6:00am today.

We got up and had breakfast as usual before catching the minibus with another (older) couple (from Scotland)

Our first stop was the Colossi of Memnon, 2 huge seated figures of an ancient pharaoh at the site of an Temple that had been destroyed by an earthquake thousands of years ago.

It was here that our guide really showed his worth, he told us he was a former archeologist and teacher who gave us a great overview of the history of Ancient Egypt.

He told us that the Colossi were named not after an Egyptian figure but a Roman Emperor. The Roman Emperor Memnon died and thereafter his mother began having strange dreams wherein a strange voice called the name of her son. These dreams continued for some time. She travelled led to Thebes and visited the site of the destroyed temple. The statues were still standing (seated) but had become somewhat derelict, wind and occasional rain having created fissures and holes and chambers in the great stone giants.

As she stood before the figures the warm desert winds blew across the chambers creating a sound which she was adamant was the voice from her dreams. In an effort to please the monther of the former emperor, the district commander had the statues renamed after Memnon. is this tale true? – who knows but it was a great story and well told.

Next – The Valley of the Kings