FACT SNACK

February 17

Seventh Wonder

Was the Colossus of Rhodes real? Yes. The Colossus was a gigantic statue made of bronze. It stood beside the harbor of the Greek island of Rhodes, in the Aegean Sea. It is said to have been 118 feet high ~ about the same height as the Statue of Liberty.

What's Up in Rhodes? In ancient times ~ 305 BC ~ the people of Rhodes were under siege by their enemy, Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was one of the successors of Alexander The Great. Everyone on the island ~ even the women and children ~ had to fight, and they were losing. Fortunately, their friend Ptolemy came to their rescue with a fleet of ships and saved Rhodes.

A Big Thank You. The people of Rhodes were so grateful that they built a huge statue of their sun god ~ Helios ~ in honor of the hard-won victory. Chares of Lindos, a sculptor of Rhodes, designed the statue, which took twelve years to finish.

Hanging Around. For years the enormous bronze figure stood overlooking the port. Poets wrote verses about the statue's beauty. The Colossus of Rhodes was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Colossus stood proudly at the harbor entrance for some fifty-six years. Each morning the sun must have caught its polished bronze surface and made the god's figure shine.

Link for More

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

History and the Colossus.

All Shook Up. In 226 BC, a huge earthquake rocked the island of Rhodes. The city was badly damaged; the Colossus broke at its weakest point ~ the knee. "But even lying on the ground, it is a marvel," said Pliny the Elder. The Colossus of Rhodes was more than a gigantic statue; it was rather a symbol of unity of the people who inhabited the isle of Rhodes.

And Then? Ptolemy III Eurgetes of Egypt offered to pay restoration costs for the monument. An oracle was consulted and forbade the rebuilding; Ptolemy's offer was declined. The statue's pieces remained on the ground for 800 years.

Straddling the Harbor? It is said that the Colossus straddled Mandraki harbor, with one foot on each shore. Given the height of the statue and the width of the harbor mouth, this is simply not possible. And once the Colossus had fallen, it would have completely blocked the entrance to the harbor.

Colossus Pieces for Sale. In 64 AD, the Arabs conquered Rhodes. They broke the remains of the Colossus up into smaller pieces and sold it as scrap metal. It is said that the fragments had to be transported to Syria on the backs of 900 camels.

Missed One. Ever so often pieces of huge statue are found. The Colossus of Rhodes has inspired many artists over the years, including French sculptor Auguste Barthold, who created the Statue of Liberty.