The Colossus of Rhodes
Dedicated to the Rhodian sun god-Helios as a symbol of peace

Location:

At the entrance of the harbor of the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in Greece

Description:

     A common misconception about the Colossus of Rhodes was that,it was believed that it stood infront of the Mandraki harbor, stradding its entrance. But it was really erected either on the Eastern promontory of the Mandraki Harbor, or even further inland.

     The project was commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor, Chares of Lindos. It was made outer cast of the statue was made of Bronze. Its base was made of white marble. The foundation of the statue was first made in its ankle and feet. As the statue was formed, it was enriched with an iron and a stone framework. The sum of the statue�s height was about 33 m (110ft) high.

     In the present, the Colossus of Rhodes is equivalent to the Statue of Liberty at New York Harbor, U.S.A.

History:

     In 408 B.C., the cities Ialysos, Kamiros, and Lindos were united to form one territory with a capital of Rhodes. When Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt engaged in a peace agreement with his enemies, the Antagonoids of Macedonia, in 304 B.C., a celebration was held in honor of their unity. The Rhodians sold military equipments and used the profit to erect an enormous statue of their sun god, Helios.

     The construction of the Colossus took 12 years and was finished in 282 B.C. Unfortunately, in about 226 B.C., a strong earthquake struck Rhodes leaving the city damaged and the statue of Rhodes destroyed at its weakest point- the knee. Because of an oracle, the people of Rhodes forbade the re-erection.

     For almost a millennium, the statue lay broken in ruins. When the Arabs invaded Rhodes, in AD 654, they thoroughly destroyed the statue and sold its remains to a Jew from Syria.

     At present, only the base where the statue one stood was left in the city�s harbor.

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