What Happened to the Colossus of Rhodes?

[axariotisxy]

I’ve been reading about Colossus of Rhodes and realized I don’t actually know what happened to it. I know it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and that it stood somewhere near the harbor in Rhodes, but beyond that, the details are a bit fuzzy for me.

Did it collapse because of an earthquake? And if so, what happened to the remains afterward? I’ve heard different versions—some say it stayed in pieces for a long time, others say it was eventually removed or sold off.

Also, is there any real evidence of exactly where it stood, or is that still debated? Curious to hear what people know or have learned, especially if you’ve visited Rhodes and seen any related sites or history in person.

 

[Tpebop]

some accounts say it stood at monte smith.where ever it was there should be traces left behind .none have ever been found .so did it ever exist?

 

[k_tsoukalas]

From what I’ve read, the Colossus of Rhodes did collapse because of a major earthquake, somewhere around 226 BC. What’s fascinating is that the remains apparently stayed on the ground for centuries afterward because people believed an oracle warned against rebuilding it. Ancient writers described visitors coming to Rhodes just to see the fallen pieces because even broken, it was still considered incredible in size.

I’ve also heard that eventually the metal was removed and sold after later invasions, although historians debate some of those stories.

As for the location, I think that’s still somewhat debated. A lot of people picture it straddling the harbor entrance, but many historians now believe that probably wasn’t structurally realistic. I’d love to visit Rhodes someday because the layers of history there seem absolutely amazing.