The Colossus of Rhodes, the sixth wonder of antiquity

In the 3rd century BC, the Rhodians built a colossal bronze statue of the god Helios to commemorate his victory against Antigonus I, king of Macedonia.

Antigonus succeeded Alexander Magnus and tried to conquer the city, since it was an ally of Ptolemy I.

This colossal tribute to the Sun god towered the height of 30 to 33 meters. Its sheer size was such that, as Pliny described, 'few men can embrace its thumb, and its fingers are larger than many entire statues.'

Sadly, an earthquake demolished it in 226 BC. Although the king of Egypt, Ptolemy III Eurgetes, offered a lot of money and workers to raise it again, the Rhodians did not dare due to an oracle that advised against it.

Lying on the ground and revealing its very complex interior, the enormous remains of the giant, broken at the knees, were on display for 900 years until de Bronce was sold by Caliph Muawiya when he took Rhodes in 654.