280 BCE
Colossus Of Rhodes Completed
About this moment
The Colossus of Rhodes (Ancient Greek: ὁ Κολοσσὸς Ῥόδιος, romanized: ho Kolossòs Rhódios; Modern Greek: Κολοσσός της Ρόδου, romanized: Kolossós tis Ródou) was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate the successful defence of Rhodes against an attack by Demetrius I of Macedon, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy. According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 70 cubits, or 33 metres (108 feet) high—approximately two-thirds of the height of the modern Statue of Liberty from feet to crown—making it the tallest statue in the ancient world. It collapsed during the earthquake of 226 BC, although parts of it were preserved.
People
- Philip II of Macedon · 385 BCE – 336 BCE