Once the frame in place, the wooden structure was covered with huge bronze plaques.
The Colossus was entirely made of wood and bronze with a marble base. The construction of the statue 32 m high lasted only 12 years, which means for the time, remains a technical challenge. The statue was built between 304 and 292 BC by Chares of Lindos. With the money raised, they decided to erect a magnificent bronze statue to thank their patron, the Greek sun god Helios. The son of the king of Macedon Demetrius Poliorcetes besieged the island of Rhodes, but could not overcome the Rhodians who had sent reinforcements Ptolemy (305-304 BC).Īfter some hard battles, the Macedonians failed to take Rhodes, leaving a large part of their military equipment that is sold by the inhabitants of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes was built to celebrate the strength of the Rhodians allies Egypt the Greek dynasty of the Ptolemies, armies of Monophtalmos Antigone, King of Macedonia. The Colossus of Rhodes is known to us through ancient writings (Polybius, Strabo, Pliny, Lucian) and Byzantine chronicles (Philo, Michael the Syrian and Constantine Porphyrogenitus). Rhodes is known for the Colossus of Rhodes, a huge statue overlooking the harbor of Rhodes town and was one of the seven wonders of the world.