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Why was Colossus of Rhodes important to ancient Greece?
The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It represented the god Helios, and was built to thank the gods for the victory over Demetrius Poliorcetes’ long siege (305 BCE) of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes is familiar to almost everyone.
Is the Colossus of Rhodes a wonder of the world?
The Colossus of Rhodes was a colossal statue of the Greek sun god Helios that stood in the ancient Greek city of Rhodes and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
How do we know about Colossus of Rhodes?
The Colossus of Rhodes is a statue that was built on the Greek island of Rhodes between 292 and 280 BC. The statue was a depiction of the Greek Titan Helios and was meant to celebrate their victory over the ruler of Cyprus in 305 BC. The Rhodians sold the equipment and used the money to build the Colossus of Rhodes.
How tall was the Colossus of Rhodes built?
108′
Coloso de Rodas/Height
Why is the Colossus of Rhodes considered a wonder?
The Colossus of Rhodes earned its place among the original 7 Wonders of the World for representing the pinnacle of ancient Greek sculptural engineering during its brief existence. Standing at the height of 98.4 feet, this grand metallic effigy of the sun god Helios towered over ships entering and leaving Mandraki Harbor in Rhodes.
What materials were used to build the Colossus of Rhodes?
Siege towers served as the scaffoldings. The Colossus of Rhodes was fabricated using large amounts of bronze and iron. Chares even cast bronze in various shapes for every part of this statue. Even if the island was known for its bronze castings, only a tiny part of the statue could be fitted with the bronze sheets that were cast in ordinary pits.
Did the Colossus of Rhodes straddle the harbour?
It is believed that the Colossus of Rhodes stood beside Mandrákion harbour in Rhodes, Greece. The statue did not straddle the harbour entrance. That belief, which originated in the Middle Ages, would have been impossible to realize from an engineering standpoint.
Why is there a statue of Helios on Rhodes?
The statue stood tall and proud on the Greek island of Rhodes, and as ancient accounts suggest, it was built in honor of the sun god Helios. It is also a monument to the Rhodians’ victorious defense of their island against a siege commanded by Macedonian leader Demetrius Poliorcetes in 305 BC.