The construction of the Colossus of Rhodes began around 304 B.C. and it was finally finished in about 282 B.C. The people of Rhodes made the statue out of bronze pieces and filled the insides with stones. It stood at about 110 feet high, and was thought to have guarded the harbor of Rhodes. Whenever trade ships or triremes (warships) came through the harbor, they would always encounter the large statue, which depicted Helios, the Greek sun god. It was theorized that Helios was standing with an upraised torch in one hand, just like the Statue of Liberty.

Because the Colossus was one of the most fragile of the Seven Ancient Wonders, it lasted only 56 years, but it didn’t perish from rust or decay, it collapsed due to an earthquake in 226 B.C.  The oracle of Rhodes told the people that they were not to rebuild the Colossus, but to leave it the way it had fallen. The people did not touch the statue for about 900 years until a Syrian prince came around 654 A.D. The prince stole all of the statue’s bronze plates, which covered its surface, and brought them to Syria on the backs of 900 camels, where they turned into coins and other tools.

That was the end of the famous Colossus of Rhodes. Scientists have discovered the ruins of the Colossus underwater, including the great head of the statue. Through pamphlets and other records, they have been able to determine its history.