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In news that should further entice historically minded travelers back to Egypt, a 50-ton, 13-meter statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III was unveiled in the ancient Egypt city of Luxor on Sunday.
According to Agence France-Presse, the statue was restored by a team of Egyptian and German archaeologists after being toppled in an earthquake roughly 3,000 years ago.
This month's reveal comes less than a year after two other Amenhotep III restoration projects were completed in March. The team behind all three is led by noted German-Armenian archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian.
"These are up to now the highest standing effigies of an Egyptian king in striding attitude," said Sourouzian.
The World Monument Fund notes that the original temple of Amenhotep III was erected sometime between 1390 and 1353 B.C. and was 100 meters wide and 600 meters long.
Only the lower sections of the ancient structure remain, but tourists can get a closer look at the restored statues at the funerary temple of Amenhotep III.
Situated along the Nile River, Luxor is located roughly 370 miles from the Egyptian capital of Cairo and has a ton to offer visitors in terms of ancient temples and monuments. 2014's completed restoration projects couldn't come at a better time either, as the country's tourism department looks to bounce back from the extended slump brought on by political instability.
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