Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek titan-god of the son Helios which was erected in the city of Rhodes, on Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was built to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus Monophthalmus, whose son unsuccessfully blockade Rhodes in 305 BC. Before its destruction in the earthquake of 226 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters high and makes it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world.

Construction:

Construction of Colossus of Rhodes was started in 292 BC. According to Ancient accounts, which differ to some degree, explain the structure as being built with iron tie bars to which brass plates were fixed to form the skin of the statue. The interior of the structure, which stood on 15 meter high white marble pedestal near the Mandraki harbor entrance, was then filled with stone blocks as advanced construction. The other sources place the Colossus on a breakwater in the harbor. Statue itself was over 30 meters tall. Most of the iron and bronze was reformed from the various weapons. The Demetrius army left behind, and the deserted 2nd blockade tower may have been used for frame around the lower levels during construction. With the use of a large earthen ramp, upper portions were built. The workers would pile barrow of earth on the sides of the colossus. On the completion all of the earth was removed and the colossus was left to stand alone during the construction. After 12 years in 280 BC, the statue was completed. It was preserved in Greek anthologies of poetry is what it is believed to be the absolute dedication text for the Colossus.

The base pedestal was at least 60 feet in diameter. The feet of the statue were carved in stone and covered with thin bronze plates fixed with together. Eight counterfeit iron bars set in a radiating horizontal position formed the ankles and turned up to follow the lines of both the legs while becoming permanently smaller. One by one cast curved bronze plates 60 inches with turned in edges were joined together by fixer through holes formed during casting to form a series of rings. The lower plates which were 1 inch in thickness to the knee and 3/4 inch thick from knee to abdomen, while the upper plates were 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick except where the strength was required at joints such as the shoulder, neck, etc.

Position:

The harbor overlooked Colossus was a production of early imaginations based on the dedication text's which was mention on 'over land and sea', twice and the writings of an Italian visitor in 1395 and noted that local tradition held that the right foot had stood, in where the church of St John of the Colossus was located. Many later the example shows that the statue with one foot on either side of the harbor mouth with ships passing under it. With references to this conception are also found in literary works.

Destruction:

The statue stood for 54 years until the Rhodes was affected by the 226 BC of earthquake, when the significant damages was also done to large parts of the city, including with harbor and commercial buildings were destroyed.  The statue snapped at the knees and it fell over onto the land. Ptolemy III offered to pay for the re-built of the statue, but the oracle made the Rhodians afraid that they had afflicted Helios, and they refused to re-construct.