The Colossus of Rhodes may rise again – and this time, it could be powered by solar panels.
The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the tallest statues of the ancient world, standing over 30 metres high. The statue depicted the Greek titan-god of the sun Helios and was constructed in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name in 280 BC.
The statue didn’t stand for long – it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC.
A group of young professionals want to rebuild the Colossus of Rhodes; but this time it will be an even bigger version of the statue – 150-meters high. The new monument would be used as a cultural center, library, an exhibition hall and a lighthouse.
Contrary to popular depiction, it seems the original structure didn’t straddle the harbour. One of the theories is that it was situated in the middle of the old town, on a podium. The proposed project would see it on the harbour, making for a dramatic entrance to the port and more in line with the descriptions of various artists and writers through the ages.
Modern construction techniques will be used to make the new Colossus of Rhodes earthquake-proof. The construction would be quite a feat in itself, but equally as challenging will be the way the monument will be powered – by a coating of gold solar panels.
Coloured solar panels and cells have already been developed and flexible modules are available – but installing what would be a combination of the two on such a structure will be quite a challenge and a rather expensive exercise. Still, it’s not like this project is about to get under way tomorrow and given how rapid solar power technology is evolving; maybe this will be entirely viable by the time the project is ready to go ahead.
The initiative would provide a major boost for the local economy and make Rhodes a year-round tourist destination.
The team behind the project said the structure can be finished in 3-4 years, without preventing access the port. The total cost of the new Colossus of Rhodes is estimated at around 240-260 million euros. One of the options for financing the project being considered is crowdfunding.
Further information on the Colossus of Rhodes project can be viewed here.
