9. The Bronze Giant
From a Toppled Wonder to a Lost Icon Once standing tall in the harbor of the Greek city of Rhodes, the Colossus of Rhodes was a massive bronze statue depicting the sun god Helios. Despite its fame, the Colossus stood for only 54 years before an earthquake toppled it in 226 BC. Subsequently, the remains were plundered and sold, leaving nothing but memories of its grandeur. Interestingly, the iconic image of the statue straddling the harbor is a product of medieval imaginations and doesn’t reflect its true appearance.
