

According to Suda, the Rhodians were called Colossaeans, because they erected the statue on the island. John Malalas wrote that Hadrian in his reign re-erected the Colossus, but he was mistaken. In accordance with a certain oracle, the Rhodians did not build it again. It collapsed during the earthquake of 226 BC, although parts of it were preserved. According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 70 cubits, or 33 metres high – approximately the height of the modern Statue of Liberty from feet to crown – making it the tallest statue in the ancient world. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate the successful defence of Rhodes city against an attack by Demetrius Poliorcetes, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy. TERESAS COLLECTIONS 33-39 inch Gold Heron Garden Statues Sculptures Backyard Decor, Metal Crane Yard Art Bird Lawn Ornaments Garden Decor for Outdoor Patio.

The Colossus of Rhodes stood up for about 56 years before it was destroyed in a massive earthquake that shook Rhodes to its core in 226 BC. DINING-ROOM TABLE TIDBIT: The other famous colossus statues were the bronze Athena Promachos on the Athenian Acropolis and the already mentioned Zeus of Olympia They were about the same size, except for the fact that the Statue of Liberty stands higher due to its taller pedestal.Ĭolossus comes from ancient Greek (kolossos) meaning ‘giant’ or ‘larger-than-life.’Īlthough today we associate the word colossus mostly with the statue of Helios, it’s interesting that this word was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to denote any larger than life or giant statue.


Pharos of Alexandria, the most famous lighthouse of the ancient world, built for Ptolemy II of Egypt about 280 bce on the island of Pharos off Alexandria. In fact, the Statue of Liberty is inspired by what it’s thought the Colossus of Rhodes looked like. The Apennine Colossus just could be the most remarkable renaissance statue in all of Europe inspired by Greek mythology. Colossus of Rhodes, a huge bronze statue built at the harbour of Rhodes in commemoration of the raising of the siege of Rhodes (305304 bce ). While others depict it simply standing with legs together holding up a torch much like the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbor. Some representations depict the statue standing over the harbor’s entrance holding a sword in its right hand and a spear in its left. There have been so many depictions of this ancient figure.
