Winter solstice sunrise at the Colossi of Memnon. These monumental sandstone statues, facing east, depict pharaoh Amenhotep III, ruler of Egypt during
Winter solstice sunrise at the Colossi of Memnon. These monumental sandstone statues, facing east, depict pharaoh Amenhotep III, ruler of Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty. They date from around 1350 BC, and are located west of the River Nile in the Theban Necropolis. 18 metres in height, they were erected to guard the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple. Egyptian temples were often aligned facing east, designed to be used to mark astronomical events such as the solstices. The solstices occur twice each year around 21 June (summer solstice) and 21 December (winter solstice), coinciding with the longest and shortest days of the year.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Photo credit: © JUAN CARLOS CASADO (starryearth.com)/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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