[77]  The Colossus took 12 years to build, in the 3rd Century BC, in the harbour of Rhodes.

 

      It was said to be constructed by the architect Chares, from scrap metal of abandoned war ships of Antigonus.

 

      Despite having an army larger than the entire population of Rhodes, the Greeks gave up on the idea of conquering it, when the Egyptian navy came to the rescue of Rhodes.

 

      And thus, the Rhodesians made a clever and creative use of all that metal and wood, erecting a 110 foot high sculpture, standing on a 50-foot pedestal.

 

      Ships could sail in and out, between Colossus’ spread legs for 56 years, until it was struck down by an earthquake.