Colossus of Rhodes Monument

The Colossus of Rhodes was an ancient bronze statue of the sun god Helios erected on the Greek island of Rhodes in the Hellenistic period and counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The monument was constructed in the late 4th to early 3rd century BCE and stood at the harbour of Rhodes until its destruction by an earthquake.

Accounts describe the statue as a large seated or standing bronze figure guarding the island’s harbour; classical sources emphasise its great height and the technical achievement of casting and assembly. Although it no longer exists, the Colossus remains an important cultural and historical reference for Hellenistic art and engineering.

Historical records state the statue was toppled by an earthquake in 226 BCE and the remains lay on the ground for centuries; later accounts describe the bronze being sold or removed, but no standing remnant survives. The traditional site associated with the Colossus is the harbour of modern Rhodes town on the island’s northern coast.

The ancient monument was located at or near Mandraki Harbour in the city of Rhodes in the South Aegean region of Greece.

• Date and maker: Erected in the Hellenistic period and traditionally attributed to the sculptor Chares of Lindos, the statue was completed around the late 4th to early 3rd century BCE and destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE.

The Colossus of Rhodes no longer exists; the traditional site is the Mandraki Harbour in the city of Rhodes. To reach Rhodes, fly to Rhodes International Airport (Diagoras) - roughly 14 km from Rhodes town - then take the airport bus or a taxi to the Old Town. Alternatively, take an overnight ferry from Piraeus (Athens) or a day ferry from nearby islands; Mandraki harbour and the Old Town are within easy walking distance of the main ferry terminal.

• The original Colossus no longer exists; visit Rhodes's Mandraki Harbour, the medieval Old Town and the Archaeological Museum to see artifacts and the harbour area traditionally associated with the statue's location.
• Avoid mid‑day coach and cruise-ship crowds by exploring Old Town early in the morning or later in the afternoon; evenings are particularly pleasant around the harbour and the Palace of the Grand Master.
• Combine a harbour visit with a trip to the Acropolis of Lindos and the island's archaeological sites to get the historical context most visitors miss when searching for remains of the Colossus.