The Colossus of Rhodes was a gigantic hollow bronze statue of Apollo It was erected around 292-275 B.C. by Chares of Lindus to overlook the harbor of Rhodes. It required twelve years to build but stood only fifty-six years until it was overthrown and broken to pieces by an earthquake in 224 B.C.. The statue stood upward of 105 feet high on an embankment facing the port (not straddling the entrance to the port as was often thought). The legs of the statue were filled with masonry to keep the statue from being top heavy. This and other precautions were unable to save yet another of the ancient wonders from the fury of earthquakes. It lay broken on the rocks for 896 years until Arab conquerors sold it as scrap metal in 672 A.D..

The Colossus of Rhodes was dedicated to the Sun.