The Origins of the Colossus
The Colossus was erected to celebrate the victory of the Rhodians over Cyprus in 305 BCE, after they successfully resisted a siege by Demetrius Poliorcetes, a Macedonian general. According to historical sources, Demetrius had tried to conquer Rhodes with a massive army and siege equipment, but the city’s defenders managed to hold their ground. After the siege was lifted, the Rhodians decided to create a monument to commemorate this victory.
The statue was conceived by Chares of Lindos, a sculptor who was tasked with designing and constructing the Colossus. The Rhodians gathered a large sum of money by selling the abandoned siege equipment left behind by Demetrius. This funding was used to commission the statue, which was to be constructed using bronze and iron.
The Statue's Design and Construction
The Colossus was intended to represent the sun god Helios, who was the patron deity of Rhodes. Helios was considered the protector of the island, and the statue was designed to embody the power and majesty of the sun god. The statue stood approximately 33 meters (108 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. Some historians believe that it may have been taller than the modern Statue of Liberty.
Chares constructed the Colossus using a technique known as the "lost-wax" method, which involved creating a mold and then pouring molten metal into it. The statue was made of bronze plates, which were supported by an iron framework. The figure of Helios was depicted standing with one hand raised, holding a torch or a symbol of the sun, and the other hand holding a spear or a globe. The statue’s feet were said to be placed on either side of the entrance to the harbor, with ships passing between them. shutdown123