The Colossus
of Rhodes

Purpose
The Colossus of Rhodes was built to show that the city
of Rhodes won the war against the army of Cyprus.
When Alexander the Great died, his land was divided
into sections. Ptolemy was the ruler of Rhodes.
Antigonus did not agree that Ptomely should rule
Rhodes, and he sent his own son Demetrius into war for
the land. Rhodes was ready and well prepared for the
attack. Demetrius retreated one year later, and his army
left behind all of their supplies. The Rhodians took their
supplies and used the money/goods to create the
Colossus of Rhodes in honor of their patron god Helios.

Location
The Colossus of Rhodes
was built in Rhodes,
Greece. It is located in
the Mandraki harbor
along the
Mediterranean Sea.

Sculptor
Chares of Lindos was a
Rhodian sculptor and
architect. Chares most
likely made several
small figures (about 3
feet tall) to find the
correct dimensions for
the statue. Legends
says that Chares died
before the structure
was completed. Some
say that a critic told him
of flaws, and Chares
was so embarrassed
that he committed
suicide.

Destruction
In 226 BC, an earthquake hit the Mandraki harbor
destroying the Colossus of Rhodes. The statue
snapped at the knees, and the ruins covered
the town. Ptolemy III (ruler at the time) offered
to pay for the reconstruction, but the oracle of
Delphi “warned” the workers not to create
another because “they had offended Helios.”
The workers did not rebuild it. In 654, an Arab
force took over Rhodes and sold the ruins to a
Jewish merchant.

Timeline
 292 BC – The construction of the Colossus
of Rhodes began
 280 BC – The Colossus of Rhodes was
completed
 226 BC – An earthquake hit and destroyed
the Colossus of Rhodes
 1970 – There was talk of rebuilding the
statue, but there was not enough money to
do so
 1989 – Possible remains were found in the
sea, but it was never confirmed

Thanks for attention