Colossus of Rhodes

The Statue of Colossus in Ancient Rhodes: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes was a gigantic statue of the god Helios. Erected by the sculptor Chares of Lindos, it was under construction from 292 BC till 280 BC and was considered as the tallest building of its time, standing at 30 feet. Built in memory of the defeat of the Roman Army, which was trying to take control of Rhodes, this giant statue represented a man holding a bow on one hand and a torch of light on the other.

The entire construction process, as derived from ancient records, consisted of using iron tie bars, to which brass plates were fixed, like skin. The inside of the structure was filled up with stones, and the iron and other metal were taken from all the materials that the Roman Army had left behind. The upper portion of this over 30 feet tall structure was built by using a large earthen ramp. This stunning statue was completed in 280 BC.

The statue of Colossus was put in the port, with its two feet standing on the edges of the entrance. The ships would pass under him. But in an area prone to earthquakes, the inevitable soon happened. In 226 BC, only 56 years after its construction, an earthquake hit Rhodes and the statue fell down. Snapping at the knees, the statue fell onto the land and broke in giant pieces.