Statues of Akhenaten at Karnak

The area to the east of the Eastern Gate in the enclosure wall of Karnak Temple has long been used as a convenient dumping ground, where archaeologists could deposit the debris from their work inside the temple. In July 1925, Maurice Pillet, Director of Works at Karnak, was working there enlarging a drainage ditch. The ditch was dug around the temple to protect its buildings from the adverse effects of the rising water table, probably caused by the Aswan Dam. He uncovered two fallen colossi of Akhenaten in the curious style which is now familiar: a thin face, arms across the chest, a protruding stomach, and wide hips. The colossi were sent to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Henri Chevrier t