Luxor: Two colossal alabaster statues of King Amenhotep III have been reinstalled at their original location in his mortuary temple on Luxor’s West Bank, following decades of careful restoration, reassembly, and scientific conservation, marking a landmark moment for Egypt’s cultural heritage. The unveiling was attended by Minister of Tourism Sherif Fathy during his visit to Luxor to inspect several archaeological sites.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the ceremony marked the culmination 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. ‘These works represent a major achievement in preserving and reviving one of the most important landmarks of ancient Egyptian civilization,’ Fathy said. ‘They reaffirm Egypt’s commitment to protecting its cultural and archaeological heritage according to the highest international standards.’