Colossus of Rhodes, Rhodes

According to legend, the Colossus of Rhodes stood astride the entrance to Mandraki Harbor, with one foot on each side of the harbor mouth, allowing ships to sail between its legs as they entered the port.

However, it’s worth noting that this dramatic image comes from later medieval accounts. Most modern historians and archaeologists agree that the Colossus of Rhodes did not stand astride the entrance to Mandráki Harbor, as such a pose would have been impractical and unsupported by ancient sources. No contemporary account places the statue spanning the harbor, and the idea is generally regarded as a later invention. The true location of the Colossus remains uncertain, though many scholars favor an inland setting, possibly near a sanctuary of Helios or on elevated ground overlooking the harbor.

The colossal bronze statue was erected in the early 3rd century BC to commemorate Rhodes’ successful defense against Demetrius Poliorcetes, who besieged the city for nearly a year. Ancient writers credit the sculptor Khares of Lindos, a pupil of Lysippos, with the project, which reportedly took twelve years to complete. The Colossus stood approximately 33–35 meters high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. Later sources relate that each of its fingers was as large as a man, though such details belong more to literary tradition than measurable fact. Stories claiming that Khares took his own life over a design flaw are also legendary and cannot be securely verified.

In 226 BC, an earthquake struck Rhodes, causing the statue to collapse at the knees. Ancient authors note that the fallen remains were considered awe-inspiring, and an oracle, traditionally identified as the Delphic Oracle, advised the Rhodians not to rebuild the monument. The fragments were therefore left where they lay for several centuries.

According to later historical accounts, the remains of the Colossus were finally removed in AD 653, when Arab forces captured Rhodes and sold the bronze as scrap. Medieval writers claim that the metal was transported by hundreds of camels.