1.4 The Colossus of Rhodes (Greece)

7 Wonders of the ancient world(Series 1)

The Colossus of Rhodes was a large statue of the Greek God Helios, made by the sculptor Cares of Lindos in Rhodes (Greece) on 292 a. C. and destroyed by an earthquake in 226 a. C. It is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.



The statue, made of bronze on a frame of iron plates, representing the Greek God of the Sun, Helios. According to Plinio the old, measuring about 32 m
But of all the most admired was the Colossus of the Sun, in Rhodes, made by Lindio, student of the above-mentioned Lysippos Cares. This statue measuring 70 cubits high.After 66 years fell down it by an earthquake, but even lying is a miracle. Few thumb may include arms, her fingers were larger than the majority of the statues. Its members broken vacuum resembles large caverns. Inside are great rocks, whose weight had stabilized its Constitution. It cost 300 talents, which were war machines abandoned by the King Demetrius in the siege of Rhodes and took twelve years to finish it.
The white marble base measuring 40 cubits (15 meters).It would have weighed about 70 tons.
For many years believed that the statue had been erected with one leg supported in each part of the Rhodes spring as shown in some images. However, does not seem to have been really well for two reasons: if it had been erected there, would have sunk under its own weight. The other reason is that for its construction should have closed a spring of great military importance for several years, being vulnerable to attack by sea.


Another hypothesis, published in an article by the German archaeologist Úrsula Vedder (2008) suggests that the Colossus would not have been in the port, but that was part of the Acropolis of Rhodes, on a hill now called monte Smith, with views of the port area. Traditionally it was believed that the temple at the top of monte Smith was dedicated to Apollo, but ―de agreement with Vedder― would have been a Helios sanctuary. According to Vedder, the oversized foundations of stone at the site of the temple, whose function is not known with accuracy, would have been the base of support of the Colossus.
Source consulted or translated:   El Coloso de Rodas (Grecia)