The Colossus of Rhodes was a colossal statue erected in the city of Rhodes on the island of Rhodes, depicting the image of Helios, the sun god of Greek mythology. The statue was built to celebrate the successful defense. As such, it symbolized the freedom and independence of the Rhodians. It was created between 292 and 280 BC by Charis, a student of Lysippus from Lindos.
King Demetrius I of Macedonia besieged Rhodes for a year with a large army and navy. When a ship rescue force sent by King Ptolemy I of Egypt arrived in 304 BC, Demetrius (son of Antigonus) and his army abandoned the area, leaving most of their siege equipment behind. To celebrate their victory, the Rhodians used all the proceeds from the equipment to finance the Colossus of Rhodes.
Construction of the Colossus began in 292 BC. The statue was built, according to some records, with iron connecting rods to which brass plates were fixed to form the skin. Located near the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes and standing on a white marble pedestal about 15 meters (49 feet) high, it was filled with stone blocks that were added as construction progressed. According to other sources, the Colossus was located on a breakwater in the harbor. Archaeologist Ursula Vedder also suggests that the Colossus was not located in the harbor area; instead, the Colossus was part of the Acropolis of Rhodes, which stood on a hill overlooking the harbor area. Although the Colossus of Rhodes is locally estimated to have stood where the two columns at the Mandraki harbor entrance now stand, its actual location is still a matter of debate.
According to most contemporary accounts, the Colossus was about 32 meters (105 feet) tall. Its height from foot to top was about two-thirds that of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. The Colossus of Rhodes was the tallest statue in the ancient world. This majestic statue was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC, which caused significant damage to much of Rhodes, including the harbor and commercial buildings. The statue broke at the knees and fell ashore. Ptolemy III offered to pay for the rebuilding of the statue, which stood for 54 years. However, the Rhodians refused to rebuild the statue. Because the Oracle of Delphi had caused the Rhodians to fear that they had offended Helios.
Although the Colossus of Rhodes collapsed in the earthquake of 226 BC, some parts of it were preserved. The remains remained in place for more than 800 years. Despite being broken, they were so impressive that many people visited the island of Rhodes to see them. When Antipater of Sidon, a writer of Greco-Phoenician origin, included the Colossus in his list of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”, the bronze body of the statue had been lying on the ground for more than a hundred years. Pliny the Elder famously said: “…even if it collapses, it remains a miracle. Few can wrap their arms around the thumb of this figure, whose fingers are longer than most statues.” The ultimate fate of the remains of this magnificent statue is uncertain.
Although the Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed about 54 years after its construction, it went down in history as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The construction technique of the Colossus has inspired many artists over the centuries. The most well-known of these is French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s construction of the Statue of Liberty, inspired by the Colossus. The island of Rhodes is waiting for you, our valued visitors, with its alluring beauty!