Friday, November 20, 2015

The New Colossus of Rhodes

When an earthquake struck Greece in 226 BCE, it destroyed the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. At 98 feet, the Colossus was a magnificently towering statue of the god Helios erected to celebrate Rhodes' victory over Cyprus.

But now an international team that includes architects, civil engineers, an archeologist, and an economist (!) are planning to build a modern version of the Colossus of Rhodes to be used as a cultural center, a library, a restaurant, an exhibition hall, and a lighthouse. Legend--and drawings and etching from hundred of years after its destruction--has it that the original statue straddled the entrance to the port of Rhodes, but this is now generally accepted as false. But the modern Colossus, will straddle the port mouth in a stunning feat of construction and tower over the city at 492 feet. Unfortunately, the project has yet to be funded... but if it ever is, look at how awe inspiring it will be:




Visit the Colossus of Rhodes Project website for more information.

http://colossusrhodes.com/colossus_of_rhodes_project_2015/

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