by *.*.T.
Originally published in The Literary Chronicle and Weekly Review (J. Limbird) vol.1 #26 (13 Nov 1819).
The colossal head of Memnon, which has been recently deposited in the ninth room of the Museum, has, from its immense size, attracted much public notice.
This huge fragment weighs fourteen tons, and is composed of a solid piece of granite, the head of which is of a flesh colour, and the lower part is of a dark grey.
The face has been lately touched over with the chissel, but it was, when found, in a fine state of preservation; this may be owing, in a great degree, to the hardness of the stone of which it is made.
The features of the face, although not very beautiful, are admirably fine, when compared with those of the ugly Egyptian deities, placed in the same room. The chin, which projects very little, rests upon an oblong square, which terminates in the upper part of the body. The ears are somewhat large for the head. The lips are broad, large, and flat, and do not appear sufficiently round, The neck is short, and is not in very perfect unison with the size of the body. The extremities of the hood lap over the shoulders on each side, in the Egyptian style. The left shoulder was split off in a transverse direction, but it is now properly joined to the body.
At the back of the head, are several hieroglyphics, inscribed, no doubt, in honour of this deity, to whom was dedicated the building called the Memnonium at Thebes, from the ruins of which this colossal fragment was brought, about two years ago, by way of Alexandria and Malta.
The head, as a piece of great antiquity, is in a very perfect state, and its renovation and erection in the British Museum do credit to the officers, and those concerned in the task, which it must be allowed was a serious one.