Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes was a massive bronze statue of the Greek sun god, Helios.

It was located on the Greek island of Rhodes. This monument was famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The statue was built to celebrate a major military victory. The people of Rhodes had successfully defended their city during a long siege. This siege was led by Demetrius I of Macedon. He had attacked the city with a large army and navy for one year.

To fund the project, the Rhodians sold the siege equipment left behind by Demetrius. They earned 300 talents from this sale. The construction was led by Chares of Lindos. Chares was a sculptor who had experience with large-scale works. He had studied under the famous sculptor Lysippos. Construction began in 292 BC and lasted for twelve years. The statue was finally completed in 280 BC.

Engineers used specific methods to make the statue stand. The structure likely used iron tie bars to provide strength. Bronze plates were then fixed to these bars to create the outer skin. As the statue grew, workers filled the interior with stone blocks. Some ancient accounts suggest the statue was built in horizontal courses. Philo of Byzantium described a method where workers built mounds of earth around each finished section. This allowed them to cast the next part on a level surface.

Modern analysis helps us understand the physical scale of the Colossus. The statue stood approximately 70 cubits tall. This is about two-thirds the height of the modern Statue of Liberty. It was the tallest statue in the ancient world. The base was likely a circular or octagonal pedestal made of white marble. The feet were carved from stone and covered in thin bronze plates. These plates were held together by rivets. The thickness of the bronze plates varied to provide strength where it was needed most.

The Colossus stood for only 54 years. In 226 BC, a powerful earthquake struck the island. The earthquake destroyed many buildings in the harbour and the city. The statue snapped at the knees and fell onto the land.

A leader named Ptolemy III offered to pay for the reconstruction. However, the Rhodians decided not to rebuild it. They followed the advice of the Oracle of Delphi. They feared they had offended the god Helios.

The broken remains stayed on the ground for over 800 years. Even in pieces, the statue was so impressive that travelers came to see it. Some historical accounts, like the Chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, claim the metal was destroyed in 653. This account says an Arab force under Mu'awiya I took the bronze. It claims the metal was sold and carried away by 900 camels. However, some historians believe this story might be propaganda. They suggest the metal might have been repurposed for coins or tools much earlier.

There is a famous myth that the statue straddled the harbour entrance. Many old drawings show ships passing between its legs. However, engineers believe this was not possible. The statue would have blocked the harbour during construction. It also likely would have collapsed under its own weight. Most researchers believe the statue stood on a pedestal or a breakwater.

The exact location of the original monument is still a subject of debate today. Since 2008, people have proposed building a new Colossus at Rhodes Harbour.