[[image:colossus.jpg|200px|thumb|Colossus of Rhodes, wood engraving reconstruction by Sidney Barclay, c. 1875]]
The '''Colossus of Rhodes''', one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]], was a 110-foot-tall statue that stood at the entrance of the harbor at [[Rhodes]]. It was built in 282 BC and was a representation of [[Helios]], the [[Greece|Greek]] sun god. It was destroyed by an [[earthquake]] 56 years later, in 226 BC. <ref>http://ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/wonders/colossus.html</ref>
The statue was built to commemorate the victory of Rhodes over the invading forces of [[Antigonus|Demetrios Poliorketes]] (''Besieger of Many Cities''), son of Antigonus. Rhodes was aided in its defense by [[Ptolemy]], a former general of [[Alexander the Great]]. Since Ptolemy associated with the sun god ([[Helios]] to the Greeks; [[Ra]] to the Egyptians), the portrayal of the sun god in the Colossus's form was an especially remarkable tribute to the general.
== See also ==
*[[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]
*[[Great Pyramid of Giza]]
== References ==
<references/>
[[category:Ancient World Wonders|Ancient Greek]]
[[Category:Ancient Greece]]
