![]() ![]() Theia, on the other hand, was a divine deity of light, beauty and precious metals. Hyperion, a Titan in charge of light and wisdom, was believed to be one of the four pillars that kept the heavens (Uranus) above the earth (Gaia). As a result, he could be considered the brother of Eos (the goddess of dawn) and Selene (the goddess of the Moon).īoth parents of Helios were offspring of Uranus (Father Sky) and Gaia (Earth). Helios was born to the Titans Hyperion (‘the High One’) and Theia (‘divine’). Being the deity that literally personified the Sun, he had many epithets including “The One High Up” ( Superus) ‘the all-seeing’ ( Panoptes) Elector (which means radiant or beaming) and Elektor Hyperion (“the radiant”).Ĭonsidering the role that he played in the Greek pantheon, he was also been called Hekatos, a name which evokes a sense of “gracious” light. In ancient Greek religion, the deity Helios was in fact a Titan – one of the oldest solar deities for that matter. Mesopotamian equivalent: Utu Meaning of his name Symbols: horses, chariot, aureole, oxen (cattle), sunflowerĮpithets: ‘the radiant’, ‘gracious’ or ‘the all-seeing’ Siblings: Selene (the goddess of the moon) and Eos (Dawn)Ĭonsorts: Perse (or Perseis), Clymene, Rhodos, LeucotheaĬhildren: Aeetes, Circe, Perses, Pasiphae, Phaethusa and Phaeton, Lampeta, Heliades Here is everything you need to know about Helios, the Greek god (Titan) of the Sun. Over the centuries, he’s been commonly depicted as a handsome, young man with sparkling headdress. The ancient Greeks also considered any island that received adequate amount of sun the territory of this chariot-driven solar deity. According to Homer, Helios’ temple sites were common on the islands of Thrinacia and Rhodes. It is still hoped that a new Colossus of Rhodes will become a reality in the future.Helios – the Greek Titan of the Sun | Image: early 4th century BC, Athena’s temple, IlionĮven to this day, it is not uncommon for one to come across stories of Helios (also known as Helius or Illius), the Greek god who pulled the sun across the sky with his magnificent, golden chariot. This project is in the planning stage and requires an estimated 200 million euros to complete. The most recent project idea is to build a massive 328 foot light installation on the site as a modern version of the Colossus. There has been a lot of talk of a new version of the Colossus of Rhodes to be rebuilt on the same site which would become a major international tourist attraction. Several accounts give credence to the idea that it was salvaged for scrap at this time. The Colossus lay in place for nearly 900 years until Rhodes was invaded by Muslim armies. Thus, its destruction in a matter of seconds in a mighty earthquake would have been very frightening for the people of Rhodes. The Colossus was seen as a symbol of great power and human achievement. It is likely that the deaths caused by the earthquake would have been attributed to the anger of the gods and contributed to the decision to leave it in place on the ground, where the gods wanted it. ![]() At the time some people wanted to repair and rebuild the Colossus but others took the view that its construction had angered the gods who had chosen to destroy it. A massive earthquake hit Rhodes in 226 BC which broke the Colossus at the ankles and left it toppled on the ground. Destruction of the ColossusĪlthough the Colossus of Rhodes was a major tourist attraction for over 900 years, the beginning of its destruction began far earlier, when it was just 56 years old. One such record states that he killed himself due to the shame caused by a minor flaw in the statue although this is dismissed by many historians as just a myth. Some historians believe that he committed suicide. It is widely believed that he died shortly before the completion of his greatest work. The Colossus was cast in Bronze by the great Greek sculptor Chares of Lindos. Homer believed that the chariot was pulled by four solar steeds. He is said to ride a chariot of the sun around the Earth. ![]() In Greek mythology Helios was the sun god. The Colossus was a massive statue dedicated to the Greek Titan, Helios. The sale of this equipment provided the money for the people of Rhodes to construct the Colossus. The city was able to withstand the siege of 40,000 soldiers.Īfter several failed attempts to gain access to the well defended city, by both land and sea, the invading army left, abandoning their equipment. It was erected to celebrate victory over the army of Cypress which attempted a siege of Rhodes in 305 BC. The Ancient Wonder was completed around 280 BC. The Colossus of Rhodes was a 98 foot high statue which towered over the Greek Island of Rhodes. ![]()
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