The Colossus of Rhodes is a unique creation of sculptors, which has become the embodiment of the god Helios. Colossus of Rhodes: a unique incarnation of the solar god

Today, few people can be surprised by giant buildings built using modern technology. A completely different impression is produced by massive structures built before our era. One of the seven wonders of the world - the Colossus of Rhodes, to this day excites the minds of scientists.

The history of the creation of the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes began after the death of Alexander the Great. After the division of his empire, the island of Rhodes passed into the possession of his colleague Ptolemy. The inhabitants of the island supported the new ruler. However, Antigonus, another comrade-in-arms and commander of A. Macedonian, did not like this.

Despite the good defense of the island's capital, Antigonus ordered his son to take over the island. The siege lasted a year without bringing any results. In 304 BC. e. the siege was lifted and they left the island, leaving the siege engines on the shore. In honor of the victory, the inhabitants of the island decided to build a statue of their patron god Helios.

The statue was commissioned to the sculptor Hares. Initially, it was planned to erect a statue 18 m high. But during the construction, it was decided to increase the height of the statue to 36 m. It took 12 years to build the colossus.

What city was the statue in?

Historians and scientists still do not have reliable information about exactly where the statue was located. Only one thing is known - the colossus was located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city of Rhodes, which stands on the island of the same name.

Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders ancient world. However, it has not reached our time.

Some sources say that the statue stood at the entrance to the strait, others that it stood in the center of the city.

The third theory says that the statue of Helios was built on a hill near the capital. This theory is supported by the way the Colossus was built.

materials

After the siege, many abandoned guns remained near the city of Rhodes. Some of the tools were sold, and it was decided to melt the rest of the metal and use it in the construction of the statue. In total, the construction took more than 13 tons of bronze and about 8 tons of iron.

The Colossus of Rhodes in our time remains a mystery to builders. Indeed, just as there is no reliable information about the appearance of the statue, very little is known about the technology of its construction.

How the statue was erected

Today, there is still debate about the method of construction of the Colossus of Rhodes. According to the surviving historical chronicles, the basis of the Colossus of Rhodes was 3 large pillars connected by hoops. According to some sources, the pillars were made of stone, according to others - of iron. Recent studies have proven that the pillars were made of stone with metal hoops.

At first, pillars of stone were erected on the base, strengthening and connecting the hewn stones with iron hoops. 2 pillars later became legs, the third was disguised with a cloak. Rays came from the hoops, to which copper plates were subsequently attached. The space between the plates and the stone base was filled with clay.

The Colossus of Rhodes in our time would have been built using scaffolding. But in 220 B.C. e. such technology did not yet exist. To facilitate work at height, an earth mound was poured around the statue, consisting of a mixture of clay, sand and stones. It covered the construction with itself, so the inhabitants of the island saw their new attraction only after the construction was completed.

The copper plates were so well adjusted to each other and polished that under the rays of the sun the statue of the Colossus glowed. Due to such a glow and its size, it was visible even from neighboring islands.

Fundraising

Construction funds giant statue sun god were collected by the inhabitants of the island. To the collected funds were added the proceeds from the sale of abandoned weapons of the occupiers. The Rhodians got 300 silver talents from the sale of weapons.

Enough money was raised to erect an 18 meter statue. However, after the residents demanded that the colossus be doubled in height, funding problems arose. Construction costs increased 8 times, and the inhabitants of the island added to the construction only an amount equal to the originally collected.

The architect Hares had to independently look for money to continue construction. Loans grew every day, reaching unimaginable proportions.

What did the statue look like?

exact description the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes has not been preserved. Fragmentary information, according to which the statue can be imagined, is contained in the notes of Pliny and Philonius. But they are fragmentary and do not give a complete picture of the appearance of the Colossus and its exact location.

Scientists have only 4-5% of the manuscripts of that time. Fragmentary memories of the Colossus in them refer to the time when he was already lying on the ground. Collecting grains of this knowledge, scientists are trying to recreate the appearance of the first giant statue in the world.

It is only known for certain that the statue stood on a pedestal about 15 m high.

Most likely it was made of marble. The statue itself reached 36 m. It represented a slender young man, on his head was a crown with rays. According to some sources, the young man's right hand was stretched out in a blessing gesture, according to others, it was pressed to his forehead.

The most popular version today about the appearance of the Colossus of Rhodes says that the statue was located at the entrance to the harbor, connecting the shores with its feet. However, the distance between them was 400m and the 36m statue could not connect them.

The death of the statue

The colossus stood, according to various sources, from 50 to 65 years. The earthquake that took place in 222-226 BC. e. destroyed it. At the very first shocks, cracks formed in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe knees of the statue, and it collapsed under its own weight.

From hitting the ground, the statue broke into several pieces. Pieces were scattered around the neighborhood and some of them ended up in the sea. It was here, in the harbor, that the brush of the statue was found. This the only proof existence of the statue. It is believed that it was after the fall of the Colossus of Rhodes that the phrase "Colossus with feet of clay" came into use.

The inhabitants of Rhodes made several attempts to raise the statue, not to no avail. Even the help of the masters sent by the Egyptian king did not help. As a result, the Colossus remained lying on the ground, attracting people from all over the world. After 900 years, due to financial difficulties, it was decided to sell the statue.

The Colossus of Rhodes cannot be seen in our time for this very reason. After its purchase, the statue was dismantled and the metal parts were melted down.

rebirth

The wonder of the world, built without the use of modern technology, attracts the attention of sculptors, architects and scientists to this day. In 2008, art connoisseur Gert Hof proposed that the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes be restored at the supposed site of its original construction. He planned to allocate approximately 200 million euros for the construction.

It was planned to increase the dimensions of the Colossus to 100 meters in height and make a statue using lighting effects. But due to disagreements at key points and the complicated economic and political situation in the country, the project was closed. 7 years of preparatory work were wasted.

Around the same time, in 2015, a group of young architects and scientists proposed a project to build 150 stone statues. It was planned to house a museum inside, Cultural Center and a library. Although scientists have proven that the original statue's arm could not have been extended, its successor will have it raised up with a torch.

It was planned to house a restaurant and observation deck. The torch should also perform its direct functions - a beacon will be installed here. New Kolos was designed taking into account earthquakes and increased wind load. Like the original statue, the brainchild of modern masters will be based on 3 pillars. In the future, they were planned to be decorated and used in the design of the museum.

It was planned to receive electricity from solar panels located on the statue itself. The designers did not specify how long it would take to build a new spike. The project has many strengths and has been approved by the authorities. However, despite all the advantages of the project, he never saw the light of day.

Didn't leave a question of recovery famous statue and Russian sculptors. So, in 2008, Zurab Tsereteli announced that a meter-long statue of the future colossus was ready in his workshop. He made it for a competition announced by the Greek authorities. According to Tsereteli, the statue of Helios was 120 meters high and represented a youth of athletic build in armor.

None of the projects were completed.

The table shows the dates of construction and destruction of the statue:

What does the wonder of the world look like today?

The Colossus of Rhodes cannot be seen in our time. Scientists have found only the palm of a gigantic statue. There is no reliable information about her appearance. Using fragmentary information of those years, one can only roughly recreate appearance famous statue.

To see the construction site of the sixth wonder of the world, you need to get to the port. It is not difficult to do this, there is a bus from the bus station to the port. The bus fare is 2 euros. Now 2 columns rise at this place, on the tops of which statues of deer are installed. Additional information can be obtained by booking an excursion to Old city. The cost of such an excursion is approximately 17 euros.

Attractions of Rhodes

In addition to the Colossus of Rhodes, there are many attractions on the island. After visiting the port, you can see the Fortress of the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of Malta. The walls of this structure are so high, and the fortifications are well thought out, that a small garrison managed to repel an attack by troops far outnumbered.

In the Palace of the Grand Masters, you can get acquainted with household items of the Middle Ages. Beautiful statues from different times will stop your eyes in the courtyard. A visit to Hippocratus Square and the Suleiman Mosque will leave many interesting memories.

Not far from the capital, on Monte Smith hill, you can enjoy magnificent landscapes. Not far from the hill, you can wander through the ruins of the temples of Apollo and Aphrodite. North of Rhodes is the second Big City on the island of Lindos. Here the attention of tourists will be offered the ruins ancient acropolis and a fortress protecting it.

After visiting the capital, you can go on a trip around the island. Unusually beautiful nature in the Butterfly Valley will shelter you from the heat and surprise you with a huge number of butterflies.

For a break from beach holiday you can go to Rodini Park. There are ponds, ancient aqueducts and a cave burial.

On east coast are thermal springs. Even in ancient times, skin diseases were treated here. Numerous sanatoriums provide good vacation any tourist.

The cost of a ticket to the island of Rhodes, together with the flight, costs from 22,000 rubles. Arriving here, you will not only have a great rest, but also learn a lot about the ancient world.

The statue of Helios is surrounded by many myths and interesting facts.

Here are some of them:

Nowadays it is difficult to surprise people with something. But the Colossus of Rhodes attracts the attention of many people. Having gone on vacation to Greece, you can visit the island of Rhodes and imagine the Colossus surrounded by hills or on the seashore. A visit to the island of Rhodes will leave many pleasant impressions.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the Colossus of Rhodes

ancient miracle of light - the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes:

It was compiled 2000 years ago by a Greek scribe. He believed that they could not be destroyed. Modern world and still fascinates this magical list.

The Colossus of Rhodes occupies an honorable place in it. The people of the island erected this statue in gratitude to the god Helios for his intercession during the year-long siege of the city by forty thousand troops.

Where is the Colossus of Rhodes located?

Now nowhere. But, as already mentioned, according to legend, it was erected on and was visible far from the sea. It was here, according to ancient writers, that the statue was located: the second sun met face to face with the first. It was created around 280 BC. e. student Kares. And although after more than 60 years, the Colossus of Rhodes fell, they say that even the ruins on the ground were impressive. In the end, the statue was destroyed by Arab soldiers and sold to Syria for stones.

Today it is impossible to find even traces in the place where she stood. Classical scholars argue that statues of this type were usually located behind the temple. But in Rhodes, the temple of Helios is located on a hilltop in the center of the city, and no traces of the Colossus could be found there. Although thanks to this statement it was possible to open another, no less important fact. It turned out that huge walls from the time of the Colossus surround the city and descend to the port. This proves that the harbor of the island of Rhodes is largely of artificial origin. And this means that the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes could be the end of the harbor wall, as in other ancient artificial harbors. She could not block the entrance to it. To do this, it must be a quarter of a mile high. But neither metal nor stone can withstand the stress of winter storms. Today at the end of the harbor wall stands medieval fortress St. Nicholas. Half of it is made of stones hewn in antiquity. If you look closely at the pieces of marble that served as building material for this small fortress, you can understand that they were carved by craftsmen from the time of the Colossus of Rhodes.

In the Middle Ages, people found new uses for them. The most interesting thing about these stones is that they are not square. Each of them is a fragment of a 17-meter circle and has roundings. 17 meters is the exact diameter of the tower inside the small fortress. It is possible that medieval architects began to build directly on the ancient foundation, which serves as a pedestal for the fallen statue.

What did the Colossus of Rhodes look like and how was it made?

The chronicler, during whose time the statue was still standing, says that it was built on the same principle as the house. Fragments of other ancient figures show that they were built with the same skill as Zeus Phidias. Fragment by fragment of a framework of steel and stone. The Colossus of Rhodes was covered with bronze sheets. As for the posture, in fact, no one knows whether he was standing, sitting, or, for example, driving a chariot. Although, you can try to find some hints in a copy of the statue made by Lysippa himself from marble for Alexander. But, most likely, the Colossus was not as tired and pompous as the old Hercules. Rather, it was a young man with a beautiful face, the same as the head of a nameless statue found in Rhodes, which gives us a new understanding. The peculiarity of this fragment is the presence of many identical holes in a circle. If you insert the pins into them, you can see that they diverge symmetrically, like the sun's rays on the statue of Helios, that is, this is most likely his head. In addition, it dates (within plus or minus 100 years) to the same time as the creation of the Colossus. If you look closely at the face, you can see the same parted mouth, turned neck, open eyes. One to One That is, the same school of sculptors that built the Colossus of Rhodes also created the image of the king, who later went around the world.

Nowadays, with huge, almost a hundred-meter statues, few people will be surprised - in last years many have been raised. And still, the height of such a monument as the Colossus of Rhodes amazes, surprises and delights the people next to it.

And just imagine how people felt five thousand years ago when they stood at the foot of the very first, huge, previously unseen statue and looked up in disbelief. And she embodied Helios, the god of the Sun.

Helios, god of the sun, lived on the east coast Aegean Sea in a luxurious golden palace. Every day, from the very morning, on his golden chariot, which was harnessed by four winged horses, he went to the west, where he had other mansions in which he spent the day, and in the evening, in a golden boat, he returned to the eastern house.

He worked all day, illuminating the Earth, he missed the moment when the gods divided the world - and ended up with nothing. But Helios did not lose his head and decided to take matters into his own hands, raising the island from the seabed and naming it in honor of his wife Rhoda - Rhodes.

Since then, the people who settled here revered and glorified him, and when he saved their city from the enemy, they decided to erect a monument to him, on a scale unprecedented at that time. From whom Helios saved Rhodes

After Alexander the Great died, his empire was divided among themselves by his three associates and generals - Seleucus, Antigonus and Ptolemy (it was the latter who was supported by the inhabitants of Rhodes). Antigonus did not like this (after all, this Rhodes was considered one of the most important strategic and economic centers at that time) - and he ordered his son to capture the island.

It was quite difficult to do this - the capital, which bore the name of the same name with the island, was surrounded by an extremely high, thick and strong wall, therefore, in order to conquer it, one had to try very hard (and this despite the fact that the number of enemy troops was many times greater than the number local residents). High siege engines equipped with powerful catapults were used.

Despite the fact that the capital was completely encircled and attacked from all sides both from land and from the sea, the besiegers could not conquer it: the inhabitants of the island desperately resisted, pouring boiling tar, sewage and dirt on the heads of the besiegers.

Keeping Rhodes under siege whole year, the enemy retreated (this happened in 304 BC), leaving weapons, catapults and other siege engines under the city. The inhabitants connected their salvation with Helios and erected a statue to him, which in our time is rightfully included in the list of "Seven Wonders of the World" - and called the sculpture Colossus of Rhodes.

History of creation

Hares was entrusted with creating a statue of unprecedented scale at that time, famous architect and sculptor of the time. He worked on it no less than 12 years, while during the work he had to think not only about the image of the statue and decide how to bring his ideas to life, but also look for the latest technical solutions to his ideas, since the creation of a huge miracle of the statue required the application the latest technologies of that time (if at first the inhabitants of the island ordered him an 18-meter giant, then they changed their minds and demanded to create a Colossus twice as large).

materials

The sculptor decided to make the statue out of clay, covering it with bronze sheets from the outside. And stone pillars connected with iron hoops were used as a frame - therefore, outwardly, it extremely strongly resembled a human skeleton.

The construction of the Colossus of Rhodes required about 13 tons of bronze and almost 8 tons of iron - fortunately, there were plenty of these materials on the island, since during the retreat, many enemies abandoned not only their weapons, but also siege machines, completely bound in bronze and iron.

It is worth noting that under the strict supervision of Sherry, blacksmiths forged sheets from bronze, the shape of which had to clearly correspond to the parameters set by the sculptor - if an inaccuracy was noticed in them, then they had to be redone.

How the statue was erected

The frame of the Colossus of Rhodes, consisting of three massive stone pillars interconnected by hoops, was sheathed by the builders with sheets made of bronze, after which clay was poured into the resulting form. The miracle statue was erected starting from the base, so the embankment on which the craftsmen were located constantly increased around it (there were no scaffolding then, and thus it was easier for the workers to assemble the sculpture). The Otrovitians did not have the opportunity to observe the progress of the work, and they saw the Colossus of Rhodes after the mound had been removed.

Fundraising

At first, the residents of the island gave money for the construction of the sculpture to Hares, while no one was left aside - and everyone contributed. Also managed to gain a lot of money from the sale of weapons thrown by the enemy, precious metals and other goods.

While it was about erecting a statue of the Colossus of Rhodes 18 meters high, there were enough funds.

But then the inhabitants of the island changed their minds and decided that the sculpture should be much higher, and demanded that a monument be erected, the height of which would be 36 meters (exactly the same was added to the collected amount).

And here the money was not enough, because, despite the fact that the statue had to be erected twice as much, the consumption of materials increased eight times. The collection of the missing funds, according to legend, was entrusted to Hares, who had to borrow this money - while the loan amount turned out to be colossal (according to one version, it was because of these debts that the sculptor subsequently committed suicide, according to another, because that he saw a crack in the structure even before it was opened).

What did the statue look like? Hypotheses

To this day, information about exactly how the statue, included in the list of "Seven Wonders of the World", has not been preserved. More or less detailed memories of him can be found in the notes of Pliny and Philonius, other authors of those times mentioned sculpture in passing in their notes. Therefore, there is no information not only about how the statue looked, but also where exactly it was installed.

There are many hypotheses about this. Many agree that the right hand of the statue was attached to the forehead, and not extended in a gesture of blessing, as required by the canons of that time - if it had been done otherwise, the hand would not have held out for a long time, and would have broken off under its own weight.

The version that the Statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was located on the coast is questioned (but not refuted), since the embankment was erected on the coast, like the sculpture itself, due to changeable weather conditions on the sea, quite difficult. It has the right to exist, because at one time the brush of the sun god was found at the bottom of the harbor.

The height of the pedestal (according to one of the versions - marble) was about 15 m, then the statue itself was from 33 to 36 m. The sculpture was supported by three columns connected at the waist and shoulders by thick iron pipes. The head of a sunny young man was decorated with a crown, from which rays radiated in different directions of the world.

According to one version, the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was a young man standing on a white marble pedestal, who, leaning back a little, peered into the sea.

A huge sculpture was installed near the entrance to the harbor and was so huge that it could be seen even from neighboring islands.

Another version says that the young man, straightening up, stood, raising a torch in his hand, while his legs were widely spaced, one leg on one side of the harbor, the other on the other, and sea vessels sailed under them. Despite the fact that this hypothesis is one of the most popular, this option is unlikely, since four hundred meters separate one coast from the other, and the Colossus, for all its grandiose sizes, would simply not have had enough legs.

According to another hypothesis, in his left hand the Colossus of Rhodes held a cape falling to the ground, and he put his right hand on his forehead.

One of the options is somewhat different from the generally accepted ones and says that the statue, included in the list of "Seven Wonders of the World", was located in the center of the capital, while Helios raised his right hand to his forehead, and he peered into the distance.

The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, did not last long. According to various sources, from fifty to sixty years - destroyed it in 220 BC. a strong earthquake, during which the clay legs of the statue broke at the knees, and the huge sculpture collapsed, falling apart (and the expression “colossus with clay feet” appeared in everyday life).

But even the fallen, in a collapsed state, the Colossus of Rhodes for a long time surprised with its size.

For example, there are references to the fact that not everyone could cover the thumb of the statue with both hands (if during the construction of the sculpture the proportions of the body were observed correctly, then the height of the sculpture could well have been not about thirty meters, as is commonly believed, but as much as sixty).

Many sympathized with the islanders, and even offered, for example, the Egyptian ruler, considerable financial assistance to restore the statue. But they, frightened by the wrath of Helios, about which the oracle warned them if the statue was restored (the earthquake was quite strong and, in addition to the harbor, also destroyed many houses on the island), they refused to reconstruct the Colossus.

Life after death

The wreckage lay on the island for almost a thousand years, until, due to lack of money, some of the metal and bronze parts of the statue were sent for remelting. Some time later, the Arabs who captured the island, according to one version, sold the fragments of sculpture to one merchant (there were so many of them that it took about nine hundred camels just to take away the bronze plates), who took them to Syria and sold to wealthy Jews.

Statue in the modern world

In our time, scientists have conceived the idea of ​​restoring the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes, but in a slightly different way. According to the plan, it will be built from luminous parts, it will be significantly higher than the original (from 60 to 100 m), and it will be installed where, according to assumptions, the Colossus was most likely to be. The preliminary cost of such a project is approximately 200 million euros - while sponsors have already been found: the German artist Gert Hof agreed to allocate the lion's share of the money for the implementation of this idea.

Everyone knows the 93-meter Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. In the left hand is a torch, and in the right is a tablet on which the date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence is immortalized. Surprisingly, more than 2000 years ago, about the same statue was built on the island of Rhodes and its name is the Colossus of Rhodes.

During antiquity, the island of Rhodes occupied an important economic role located in the southwest of Asia Minor. main city- Rhodes, bore the name of the island and was founded in 407 BC. In 358 BC. the island was conquered by King Mausolus, yes, exactly the one in whose honor one of the seven wonders of the world was erected - the tomb in Halicarnassus. Later, in 340 BC. the island passed into the possession of the Persians, and eight years later it was captured by Alexander the Great. After the death of Macedonian, who died in the gardens of Babylon (another of the seven wonders of the world), the generals began to fight for the right to inherit the empire.

Rhodes was divided into three parts, which went to Ptolemy, Seleucus, Antigonus. It so happened that the Rodovites were on the side of Ptolemy, who ruled Egypt even before that. Envy clouded the eyes of Antigonus, and with the help of his son Demetrius, he went to war against Rhodes. A huge army of more than 40,000 (the largest population of the island) soldiers collapsed on the walls port city. To conquer Rhodes, a huge siege tower was built, mounted on six ships! But here Demetrius failed, a sudden hurricane overturned the structure into the water. Antigonus did not give up and ordered his son to build another giant tower with a height of 150 feet and a base of 75 square feet. The second tower carried many catapults, the soldiers on it were protected by animal skins and shields made of wood. The Rhodians did not save here either, pouring out a bunch of sewage from the outside of the wall. As a result, the huge tower got stuck, never reaching its destination. Just in time, a fleet from Egypt arrived, which repelled Demitri's attack, putting him to flight.

In order to perpetuate their victory, the islanders decided to build a huge statue of Helios, the god of the sun, who, according to legend, brought the island out of the depths of the sea. Funds received from the sale of Demetrius' siege engines, which were thrown behind the wall, were used for the construction. The construction of the statues lasted twelve years, the Colossus was installed on a hill that was created at the entrance to the harbor. Very often, the Colossus of Rhodes is depicted with legs wide apart, between which the ships sail into the harbor, but this is not so, the statue was installed on the shore. The height of the Colossus was about 110 feet, add another 50 feet, which gave the pedestal. The sculpture was a half-naked god, who right hand closed his eyes from the sun, and held his robe with his left. There is an opinion among historians that most of The sculpture consisted of clay stuck on a steel frame, and bronze sheets were already applied on top of it.

The creator of the statues of the Colossus of Rhodes was Sherry, a native of Linda, who studied with the famous sculpture Lysippus. Unfortunately, Sherry never saw the result of his work. There are two versions of his death. First, Sherry noticed a crack in an almost finished statue, unable to survive this, he committed suicide. The second is the complete ruin of the sculptor due to the increase in construction costs. Jerez grieved for a long time and eventually hanged himself. The Rodowski colossus stood at the entrance to the harbor for about 60 years. The statue was still visible far from the island, reflecting the rays of the sun.

Rhodes was a major economic center ancient world. located on southwest coast In Asia Minor, he often acted as a tidbit for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death civil strife began between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Construction idea

It should be noted that the long siege was not successful, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the shore of the island, his warriors abandoned a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising people immediately decided to sell it. With the proceeds, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for having saved the city from the invaders.

The construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippus. It was proposed to portray Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the very ground, and with his right to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed into the distance with his hand.

Three massive stone pillar served as the basis for a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the shoulders of the Colossus, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, whose head was decorated with a radiant crown.

Death of the Colossus

Literally half a century later, the strongest earthquakes shook the island, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 AD. they decided to dismantle it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserved data that it took 900 camels to transport the bronze with which the statue was decorated.

Modern interpretations of the great statue

The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even some restoration measures are being taken now. huge statue. According to some reports, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of ​​creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes, it was used much earlier - a statue of a woman holding a huge torch was installed in New York Bay. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.