Rhodes mayor wants to rebuild Colossus

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2005-02-12 02:46pm

ATHENS (AFP) - The mayor of Rhodes relaunched an often-delayed project to rebuild the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Greek news agency ANA reported.

Mayor Yannis Iatridis at a press conference proposed building the gigantic statue of the sun god Helios on a hill near the seaside resort of Faliraki.

The Greek-Cypriot artist Nicolaos Gotziamanis, who has been preparing the project for several years, would erect the statue estimated to cost 100 million euros (129 million dollars) under the plan. It would be made of brass and stand about 33 meters (108 feet) tall.

Gotziamanis has brought together for the project a committee of well-known Europeans, both in politics and in the arts, headed by the former president of Portugal, Mario Soares.

Iatridis said he would try hard to obtain the necessary permits to carry out the project.

Many times over more than 30 years, previous mayors of Rhodes wanted to boost tourism and rebuild the Colossus of Rhodes. Each time the project was halted because of a lack of money or the reluctance of the ministry of culture.

The Colossus was built by Rhodian sculptor Charles of Lindos between 304 and 292 BC at the entrance of the port of Rhodes. A strong earthquake in 225 BC toppled the statue of Helios. In 653, the Arabs took control of Rhodes and sold off what remained of the statue.

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-02-12 02:50pm

pretty cool.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2005-02-12 03:11pm

Sweet, but how do they know what it looked like?

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-02-12 03:15pm

*snort* 'Boost tourism', as if Rhodes isn't already one of the most busy Aegean Islands.

Still it would be pretty cool if they did it!

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2005-02-12 03:31pm

Master of Ossus wrote:Sweet, but how do they know what it looked like?

There are such things as drawings, y'know...

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » 2005-02-12 03:32pm

lol .... imagine the uproar in the U.S. if somebody tried to use public money to build a 100-ft. pagan sun-god statue .....

Only football temples here, thank you!

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2005-02-12 03:32pm

Mayor Yannis Iatridis at a press conference proposed building the gigantic statue of the sun god Helios on a hill near the seaside resort of Faliraki.

A hill? Not at the entrance to the harbor like the old one? T_T

Obloquium · Post by **Obloquium** » 2005-02-12 03:42pm

They should go for a 100 ft Buddy Jesus. That'll get people talking.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2005-02-12 03:55pm

kheegan wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:Sweet, but how do they know what it looked like?
There are such things as drawings, y'know...

Which one do they trust, though? The drawings I've seen have all been inconsistent, as have some of the eyewitness descriptions of the original statue.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-02-12 04:14pm

The general description has always been that of a large statue overlooking the harbor, occasionally described as pointing or looking outwards towards the sea, usually nude as was the Grecian tradition. My, wouldn't that make a sensation... 10-foot-long schlong!

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-02-12 04:22pm

Elheru Aran wrote:The general description has always been that of a large statue overlooking the harbor, occasionally described as pointing or looking outwards towards the sea, usually nude as was the Grecian tradition. My, wouldn't that make a sensation... 10-foot-long schlong!

Hmm, maybe I should model for it then ... rimshot!

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-02-12 04:47pm

Hmm, this may get me to visit again. I didn't like my hotel, despite being four-star, because it was next to the main road. Yes, there is a large motorway through the island, so the name is somewhat ironic.

I've always wanted someone to build the other Rhodes colossus. The one stretching over Africa. We just need to find the materials to make it several thousand klicks tall.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-02-12 04:50pm

I'm sorry, what 'other' Rhodes Colossus are you refering to

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-02-12 04:54pm

IIRC, the colosus is standing with its feet together and one arm outstretched. Should be interesting if his arm doesn't break off.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-02-12 05:11pm

Crown wrote:I'm sorry, what 'other' Rhodes Colossus are you refering to

Clicky me.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-02-12 05:35pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
Crown wrote:I'm sorry, what 'other' Rhodes Colossus are you refering to
Clicky me.

British Empire? Just taking a guess.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-02-12 05:40pm

Ja, was printed as a political cartoon during the imperialisation of Africa, so to speak.

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2005-02-12 05:55pm

Crown wrote:
British Empire? Just taking a guess.

Cecil Rhodes was keen on building a Cape to Cairo railway, as well as painting as much of Africa red as possible.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-02-13 06:41pm

Will re-building the Colossus get Greece that trade bonus back, or does it remain cancelled ever since Flight was discovered?

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2005-02-13 06:50pm

Vympel wrote:Will re-building the Colossus get Greece that trade bonus back, or does it remain cancelled ever since Flight was discovered?

LOL!

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-02-13 06:51pm

Crown wrote:
Elheru Aran wrote:The general description has always been that of a large statue overlooking the harbor, occasionally described as pointing or looking outwards towards the sea, usually nude as was the Grecian tradition. My, wouldn't that make a sensation... 10-foot-long schlong!
Hmm, maybe I should model for it then ... rimshot!

Good idea, that'll cut it down to 5-ft for sure.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2005-02-13 07:21pm

Vympel wrote:Will re-building the Colossus get Greece that trade bonus back, or does it remain cancelled ever since Flight was discovered?

AHAHAHAHA!!!

That was funny as hell!

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2005-02-13 08:59pm

Maybe they used the editor to change that?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-02-13 09:15pm

Galvatron wrote:
Vympel wrote:Will re-building the Colossus get Greece that trade bonus back, or does it remain cancelled ever since Flight was discovered?
LOL!

fuq