After decades of careful restoration, reassembly, and scientific conservation, two colossal statues of Amenhotep III have been reinstalled at their original location in his mortuary temple on Luxor’s West Bank. The statues are made of alabaster.

According to Egyptian Minister of Tourism Sherif Fathy the two statues represent a major achievement in preserving and reviving one of the most important landmarks of ancient Egyptian civilization. “They reaffirm Egypt’s commitment to protecting its cultural and archaeological heritage according to the highest international standards,” Fathy added.

The unveiling ceremony marks the completion of nearly three decades of work under the Conservation Project of the Colossi of Memnon and the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III, one of the most ambitious heritage preservation initiatives in modern Egyptian archaeology.