The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant statue that stood at the entrance of the harbor on the island of Rhodes in ancient Greece. Built between 292 and 280 BC, it was created to celebrate the victory of the Rhodians over the ruler of Cyprus, Demetrius Poliorcetes. The statue depicted the sun god Helios and was approximately 33 meters tall, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. Constructed by the sculptor Chares of Lindos, the Colossus was made of bronze and iron, and it took about 12 years to complete. Unfortunately, it stood for only 56 years before being toppled by an earthquake in 226 BC. The remains of the statue lay on the ground for centuries, and it became a symbol of Rhodes and a marvel of engineering in the ancient world.