The Egyptian and German archaeological team started on Monday 11/2/2013 moving the two re-discovered Amenhotep III statues 60 meters away from the Temple of Amenhotep III in Luxor.

The two statues that were re-discovered in 2010 have to be moved because a drinking water pipeline was burst, posing grave danger to the two colossi.

The two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III were placed at the northern entrance of the temple, and were probably destroyed during an earthquake in 27BC.

The German side will bear the cost of moving the 14-meter tall statues. The restoration operation will then start and is expected to take one year, the head of the German mission said.

Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt between 1390 and 1352 BC, is the father of Akhenaton, the "heretic pharaoh" considered a precursor of monotheism because he tried to impose the exclusive worship of Aton.