Colossus of Rhodes, Colossal statue in Greece
The Colossus of Rhodes was a bronze figure of the sun god Helios standing about 33 meters tall on the Greek island of Rhodes. Scholars believe the statue rose on a hillside overlooking the city, rather than at the harbor entrance as once thought.
Chares of Lindos built the bronze figure over several years from melted-down war weapons and finished it around 280 BC. An earthquake toppled the statue decades later, and an oracle prompted the Rhodians to leave it fallen rather than rebuild.
The figure honored Helios, the sun god worshipped on Rhodes, as thanksgiving for a military victory. Broken pieces lay scattered on the ground for centuries, drawing travelers who came to witness the enormous remains.
No physical remains exist on Rhodes today, but museums in the old town display models and depictions of the ancient figure. Walking along Mandraki harbor provides a chance to explore the modern waterfront while considering the statue's lost history.
Arab merchants later dismantled the toppled bronze figure and transported the pieces away. The widespread story of the statue straddling the harbor with legs apart originated only in medieval texts without historical foundation.
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