Colossus of Rhodes

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.

The Colossus of Rhodes was made of shaped bronze plates fastened to an iron framework. It was said to be 70 cubits (105 feet [32 metres]) tall, and it depicted the sun god Helios. Many representations of the statue depict the figure as nude or semi-nude, except for a cloak, and a representation in one relief suggests that the figure was shielding its eyes with one hand.

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.

Notable plans to build a new Colossus of Rhodes have been proposed in the 21st century. These plans have had manifold purposes, including creating a symbol of world peace, promoting Greek culture, and providing economic benefits to Greece, such as job creation and tourism revenue. Learn more.