Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes

Summary

---

Ridiculous History: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—The Colossus of Rhodes

Podcast: Ridiculous History
Hosts: Ben Bowlin & Noel Brown
Episode Air Date: September 4, 2025

---

Episode Overview

Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown continue their tongue-in-cheek examination of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, focusing on the short-lived but awe-inspiring Colossus of Rhodes. With help from super-producer and research associate Max Williams, they explore the origins, construction, destruction, and enduring legacy of this bronze giant, drawing connections to modern icons like the Statue of Liberty.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: What Makes a “Wonder”

[02:20]

• The hosts reference their ongoing ancient wonders series, raising the question, “What even makes a wonder?”
• They joke about the arbitrary nature of such lists:

  “Who are we to judge? Well, we’re your pals over at Ridiculous History.” – Ben

2. The God Helios and the Island of Rhodes

[06:45 - 09:03]

• The Colossus represented Helios, the Greek sun god—and a Titan—whose worship was especially prominent on the island and city of Rhodes.
• Rhodes was an influential maritime city-state strategically located near modern Turkey, not Greece.
• The city sat at the northeastern tip of the island, thriving on trade with “five harbors.”

3. Historical Context: Siege and Inspiration

[09:36 - 12:30]

• After Alexander the Great’s death, his generals fought for power. Antigonus sent his son Demetrius to siege Rhodes (305–304 BCE) due to shifting alliances.

• The siege lasted a year but ended in a truce. The attackers left behind advanced siege equipment, which the Rhodians sold.

• The profits and leftover materials inspired the city to commemorate their survival with a monumental statue honoring Helios.

  “So there’s this 12 month siege… [Rhodians] withstand this siege… Demetrius gets his street name, 'besieger of cities,' but doesn't get much else.” – Ben [10:51]

4. Construction of the Colossus

[12:50 - 18:23]

• Sculptor Chares of Lindos (not “Charles”—cue puns) took on the “Herculean task” of designing the statue, drawing on research by Pliny the Elder.
• The statue stood about 108 feet high (33 meters), assembled from hammered bronze sheets over internal iron struts, with stones providing ballast.
• It took approximately 12 years to complete.
• Notably, the statue included explicit anatomical detail in keeping with Greek artistic tradition:

  “They did feel it was important to include the penis; you gotta know, a colossal undertaking unto itself.” – Noel [17:41]

5. What Did It Actually Look Like?

[18:29 - 20:20]

• No detailed images or models survive, so most modern representations are speculative.
• Coin depictions of Helios show a crown of sunbeams, which may have influenced the statue’s design.
• There are no extant models or detailed records:

  “It’s not like you can call anyone today and ask about their experience building the Colossus of Rhodes.” – Ben [18:29]

6. Where Did It Stand?

[20:20 - 22:25]

• The exact location is unknown. Possible sites include:
  • The harbor entrance (the popular but unlikely “straddling the harbor” image).
  • Near the Sanctuary of Helios in the city center.
• Archaeological digs have found possible base stones and masonry, but no clear remains.

7. Demise and Afterlife

[24:10 - 25:25]

• The Colossus stood for only about 60 years before an earthquake in 226/225 BCE toppled it.
• Its bronze remains lay untouched for centuries, becoming a tourist curiosity, until Arab raiders broke them up and sold them for scrap in 654 CE—requiring more than 900 camels.
• The fate mirrored that of other wonders, like the statue of Zeus:

  “For centuries, this thing was just too big to move unless you stole little scraps of it.” – Ben [24:13]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the statue’s brief glory:

  “Like the Hellenistic age itself... the life of the Colossus was pretty brief. It was too big, not too big to fail.” – Ben [24:10]

• On the eternal fascination:

  “It came to become iconic. I do agree with the idea that it later informed larger sculptures like our Statue of Liberty here in the United States.” – Ben [22:25]

• On Statue of Liberty comparisons:

  “It is a design of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi... a one to one echo.” – Ben [29:02]
  “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land...” – Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” recited by Ben [34:53]

• On Civilization video games:

  “The Colossus is actually one that's showed up in all seven games now. All seven mainline games. It's a wonder that you can build. It usually makes you money. It looks really cool.” – Max [33:04]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Series Context: [00:00 – 02:54]
• Helios & Rhodes Background: [06:45 – 09:03]
• Siege and Construction Origins: [09:36 – 12:30]
• Building the Colossus: [12:50 – 18:23]
• Speculation About Its Appearance: [18:29 – 20:20]
• Possible Locations: [20:20 – 22:25]
• Iconic Status & Destruction: [24:10 – 25:25]
• Statue of Liberty & Modern Echoes: [29:02 – 32:24]
• Civ Games & Cultural Legacies: [32:42 – 33:49]
• Emma Lazarus Poem Recitation & Reflection: [34:53 – 36:06]

---

Legacy & Symbolism

• The Colossus of Rhodes became a symbol of freedom and resilience in its own time, as captured in its original dedication:

  “To you, O sun, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils...” – [29:58]

• Its spirit lives on, most famously in the Statue of Liberty, both in design and in “welcoming the huddled masses”:

  “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” – Emma Lazarus, recited by Ben [35:03]

---

Tone & Style

Both hosts maintain their trademark mix of deep geekery, irreverent wit, and genuine emotional connection to history’s lasting symbols, occasionally trading barbs or riffing on ancient and modern “colossi.” Max joins the fun with Civilization game trivia, and Ben’s heartfelt reading of “The New Colossus” brings the episode to a moving close.

---

Conclusion

The Colossus of Rhodes was a marvel born from war, built from the spoils of victory, and doomed by nature. Yet, as the hosts emphasize, its symbolic resonance—visible in everything from ancient coins to the Statue of Liberty—remains undiminished. This episode spotlights how even vanished wonders shape the world we still inhabit.

---

Transcript

[A]

Ridiculous History is a production of iHeartRadio. Welcome back to the show, fellow ridiculous historians. Thank you as always, so much for tuning in. Let's hear it for a wonder of the modern podcasting world, our super producer, Mr. Max Williams. Who do we have joining us here? None other than the man, the myth, the legend, a wonder all his own. It's Mr. Noel Brown.

[B]

It is I. Thank you very much. Not much of a colossus, more of a. What's the. What's the opposite of a colossus? A pygmy.

[A]

Oh, no. Come on, man. That's charged. You're a Titan.

[B]

Thank you, buddy. I remember those guys.

[A]

Yeah, you're welcome, buckaroo. My name is from that movie, Clash of the Titans.

[B]

Remember the Titans?

[A]

Remember the Titans?

[B]

Yeah. That's a football movie with. Remember the Clash? What's that guy's name? Denzel Washington with a ragtag football. Kind of.

[A]

Who says he no longer watches films. By the way, my name is Ben Bolan. We are going to talk about continuing series way back in the days of yore. By which means several years ago, we got together in one of our pitch meetings and we started asking ourselves, what are the wonders of the ancient world? Do you remember that one?

[B]

Oh, how could I forget? What do we have? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? The. Of course. Did we do the Pyramids of Giza? Certainly we did. Maybe we did. We've certainly talked about that. That one I'm saving for last because that's the only one we actually know for hunting.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Those are still around. You can still catch them. We did the. Did we do Easter Island? No, we talked about that actually recently on stuff they don't want you to know. I'm so sorry, Max. It was a great series, but I'm spacing on all of the ones that we did. Babylon is the one that I know for sure.

[A]

We're also going to have a metacognitive series, or a meta series, at least an episode on what makes a wonder. Because as we exploration a little bit of an arbitrary ranking, who are we to judge? Well, we're your pals over at Ridiculous History. This is part four of the Wonders of the Ancient World, and we're talking about the Colossus of Rhodes.

[B]

This is an I heart podcast.

[C]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699, the stain resistant Performance Fabric Slipcovers and cloud like frame Duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Is moderate to severe plaque psoriasis keeping you from being you? Get back to clearer skin with Bimzelix Bimakizumab, a prescription medicine taken by injection used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Bimzelics can deliver transformative relief. Most people got 100% clear skin in combined clinical studies, nearly 9 in 10 people saw 90% clearer skin and more than 6 in 10 saw 100% clearer skin at 16 weeks. Serious side effects like suicidal thoughts and.

[D]

Behavior, infections and lowered ability to fight them, liver problems and inflammatory bowel disease have occurred. Tell your doctor if these happen or worsen or fevers, chills, muscle aches or.

[C]

Or cough occur or you've had a.

[D]

Vaccine or plan to before starting. Get checked for infections, tuberculosis and liver problems.

[C]

Start to get yourself back. Ask your dermatologist about Bimselix. Learn more at bimze l x.com or call 1-833-UCB now.

[B]

One picture this.

[A]

You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom. You realize you're missing a part. It's okay because you know whatever it is, it's on ebay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes. Whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit. Which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. Ebay Things people love Running a business online.

[D]

Look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy. Instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains to find one that's right for you. Pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs, from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.com GD now and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.com GDnow again. GoDaddy.com GDnow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow.

[A]

Unlike some of our previous stuff to your point, Noel, the Colossus totally existed. Maybe we start with knocking out a little bit of background info, a little bit of context. Maybe we start with a buddy of ours, Greek God named Helios.

[B]

Indeed, Helios, according to our pals over at Britannica, is the Greek sun God. Britannica notes that he was actually a Titan, a child of the Titan, Hyperion and Theia, the Titans in fact plural, while he, according to Britannica, drove a chariot daily from east to west across the sky and sailed around the northerly stream of ocean each night in a huge cup. In classical Greece, Helios was especially worshipped in Rhodes, where from at least the early 5th century BCE he was regarded as the chief God to whom the island belonged. His worship spread as he became increasingly identified with other deities, often under Eastern influence.

[A]

All right, so let's talk a little bit about that aforementioned Rhodes in the earlier quote, especially worshipped in Rhodes, as we'll see folks, with a big shout out to our research associate Max Williams. Spoiler. Also our super producer. There's a lot of what corporate America would call synergy between these two concepts. The thing about the city of Rhodes is that the city of Rhodes in that time is on an island in the Mediterranean Sea that is closer to modern day Turkey than it is to modern day Greece. Just because we always love our history complicated. That island is also called Rhodes. So there's a city called Rhodes, there's an island called Rhodes. And to our friends at Britannica, again, tip of the cap, the largest urban center on the island, Rhodes sits at the northeastern most tip of Rhodes. The island got it.

[B]

Indeed. They go on to say that in classical history, Rhodes was a massively crucial and powerful maritime force. It also had a lot of influence on Mediterranean history, as well as the preservation of architecture of the Gothic and Ottoman styles. So we've got a sun God who hangs out on the water, a city on the water. And now it's time for us to talk about how this thing actually got built.

[A]

The city of Rhodes, writes Mark Cartwright, who we are not doing an impression of, with its five harbors, was ideally placed on the island of the same name to prosper from trade during the Hellenistic domination of the Mediterranean under Alexander the Great's successors. Especially when more and more cities were established in the East. The island's wealth, strategic position on these trade routes, they got noticed by a lot of foreign grand poobahs. A lot of big to dos, for sure.

[B]

That is absolutely accurate. Antigonus, who is one of Alexander's successors who controlled Macedon and northern Greece, was one of those grand poobah types. And he sent his son, Demetrius I of Macedon, to attack Rhodes between 305 and 304, which off mic Ben pointed out to me, BCE counts backwards. So there you go. The island's recent alliances with Antigonus, rival Ptolemy, the first you might have heard of over there in Egypt, was another reason to attack Rhodes and to neutralize that naval fleet.

[A]

Yeah, they were super beefed up, even if they couldn't afford a lot of cattle at the time. So there's this 12 month siege lasting what we would call a year in the modern day. Our buddies, the Rhodians, the people who live on the island or in the city of Rhodes, they have a lot of stockades, blockations, fortifications, and they're able to withstand this siege such that our buddy Demetrius says, look, we'll stop blockading you. We gotta make stuff worthwhile for everybody. Let's negotiate a truce. And so Demetrius from this gets his honorific. We love an honorific. This is how Demetrius gets the street name besieger of cities. But he doesn't get much else from this. He just leaves behind a bunch of his siege toys.

[B]

Where does he get these wonderful toys? It's a good question. That includes 36.5 meters of high tower that the Rodians were then able to sell off to make a little scratch. And here is the thing. Thanks to the ports, making them a center for trade, they already had a ton of money, so they decided to ball out further. Yeah, just a bit. Yeah. Okay. I love a smidge bit Max. And honor their patron God. Which is where we see Charles of Lindis entering the chat.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Or Charles of Lindis. I knew you would do it Charis, not Charles. That's a different dynasty entirely. Thank you Max with the facts. Who's there creeping out of your phone? It's Max and he dropped the knowledge just for you. So good. There he goes.

[A]

Max gave you his fact Kares or Chars if you guys prefer. Don't call me Chuck. Lindis is at the helm and this guy is figuring out the, wait for it Herculean task of sculpting this giant thing they're calling Helios. And if you look back to our buddy Pliny the Elder, a returning guest on the show, this statue, the Colossus of Rhodes as we call it now, it took a lot of effort. It took at least 12 years to be completed and they made a bronze figure which stood about what we in the US would call 108ft high. Folks, we know that is not as tall as a lot of other statues and sculptures today, but we have to remember, just like if we were a very rude Ben Bolan traveling and seeing the Tower of London sculpture and structure and architecture back then was not as sophisticated as it is now.

[C]

Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? WashablesOfAs.com has your back featuring the Annabe Collection, the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabrics. Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Check out washablesofas.com and get up to 60% off your Anna Bay sofa backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[D]

Running a business online look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy. Instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains to find one that's right for you. Pair that with a professional email that works for all your businesses needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again. GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow Picture this.

[B]

You're halfway through a DIY car fix. Tools scattered everywhere and boom. You realize you're missing a part.

[A]

It's okay because, you know, whatever it is, it's on ebay.

[B]

They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need.

[A]

And it's guaranteed to fit. Which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing.

[B]

All the parts you need at prices you'll love.

[A]

Guaranteed to fit every time.

[B]

Ebay Things people love.

[A]

This episode of ridiculous History is brought to you by American Public University.

[B]

American Public University is the number one provider of education to our military and veterans in the country.

[A]

They offer something truly unique. Special rates and grants for the entire family, making education affordable not just for those who serve, but also for their loved ones.

[B]

If you have a military or veteran family member and are looking for affordable, high quality education, APU is the place for you.

[A]

So visit APU Apus Edu Military to learn more today.

[B]

That's APU Apus Edumilitary.

[A]

We've learned a lot about the nature of the this statue. We've learned that it had a bronze outer shell. They probably hammered that on in sheets, assembled it on site. But Noel, they put so much work into this. The structure, the internal structure in particular, 100%.

[B]

It required a lot of fortification inside. Think of maybe like the Statue of Liberty and all of the metal struts that exist with inside that structure to keep a hollow, you know, shell of a sculpture from caving in on itself. So it was supported by a series of internal iron struts and certain pieces got weighted down further with stones to increase the stability. And Max pointed out, and we must also point out that they did feel it was important to include the penis. You gotta know a colossal undertaking unto itself.

[A]

Which is funny because a lot of statuary at the time praised small penises. It's true. That is very true.

[B]

And we haven't seen the penis, so we can't speak to whether or not it was a grower or a shower.

[A]

So we know that the statue's appearance in the modern day is primarily based on guesswork and excellent research. But it's not like you can call anyone today and ask about how their experience was building the Colossus of Rhodes. The best way to say it is that there are no surviving representations, mockups, or scale models of the Colossus in other ancient art forms. So we didn't have anybody hanging out building a little action figure version of the Colossus.

[B]

Dang, a bummer. That would have been cool.

[A]

I want one.

[B]

How many points of articulation I knew.

[A]

You were going to? Yes, right. Where's our GI Joe of this?

[B]

Would the penis have been one of them?

[A]

And how articulate would it be? Prehensile penis. All right, story for another day. The depictions of Helios on the Hellenistic silver coin of Rhodes might be a reference point. So if we look at that coinage, we can speculate the statue may have had a lot more to it than you see in film and fiction today. May have had a crown of pointed sunbeams.

[B]

Ooh, interesting. I did make a little reference earlier to a very visible and famous statue that may have had something to do with this guy. So we'll get to that in a little bit.

[A]

Also may have descended from earlier depictions of the Anunnaki. All right, I'm going to let it go.

[B]

Love a good universe crossover. Do check out the multi part series on the ancient godlike entities that are the Anunnaki. Over on stuff they don't want you to know.

[A]

How well said. Oh my gosh. All right, so here's the issue. You might be saying, hey guys, I'm a billionaire. I travel around the world just to see stuff that you talk about on ridiculous history. So where exactly on the island of Rhodes or in the historic city of Rhodes, in the ruins thereof, do I find this statue? Unfortunately, the exact location of the statue is no longer known because we have no record of any contemporary writer saying exactly where it was. So we have to guess it's maybe on what would have been the eastern side of the harbor.

[B]

100% more concrete evidence. Well, actually in the form of sandstone would be a large circle of cut blocks, which could have served as the foundation for the statue's base. Add to that there are also fine, slightly curved marble blocks randomly used in the fortress's walls that date back to the third century bce as well as some odd shaped stones which might have been part of the weight of that were used in the statue's interior that we talked about to weigh down those iron struts to help support the structure. A second possible location could be the high city center where the sanctuary to Helios was located. And just to paraphrase Mark Cartwright, who is an authority on this subject, which I've been doing up to this point in these descriptions, because he's really got it nailed down, we are talking about the Sanctuary of Helios and potentially, hopefully, reliable pieces of masonry inscribed with some details as potential proof for this version of the story. So the Greeks did often situate their statues of various deities near the sanctuary that was dedicated to them, which makes sense.

[A]

So let's think of it this way. We go over to the sanctuary and we say, as modern researchers, ah, these Rhodians, super pro Helios, surely they would have a solid record of the statues of their deities. And maybe their deities are next to the big fancy edifice and building and structure that they dedicated to their gods. Unfortunately, here in 2025, there have been extensive archaeological investigations to the sanctuary site, and no traces of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes have been found there. All we can say, based on numerous reports, was that the Colossus of Rhodes was massive for people at the time, if not massive for people in modern ages. And it was so popular that it ended up on coinage, it ended up on currency. It was also referenced often in Hellenistic sculpture and in art in general. It came to become iconic. Right. And I do agree with the idea that it later informed larger sculptures like our Statue of Liberty here in the United States, unfortunately, like the Hellenistic age itself. Shout out to Mark Cartwright. The life of the statue, the life of the Colossus was pretty brief. It was too big, not too big to fail.

[B]

Seems to have failed in one form or another.

[A]

It got shattered into pieces. It was picked over by some monsters. Oh, the statue of Zeus.

[B]

Statue of Zeus was another one that we did that had a similar fate.

[A]

Right, you're correct. And this statue, the Colossus of Rhodes, appears to have fallen to an earthquake around 226, 225bce and people just left it where it was, you know, like a gigantic corpse. Until about 654 common era. So for centuries this thing was just too big to move unless you stole little scraps of it. And it's 654 common era when forces from what we call Arabia raid roads the island as well as the city, and they have the infrastructure to break this statue up. And you know what they do? They don't put it in a museum because Indiana Jones is not even a franchise yet. Instead they sell the bronze from the exterior for scrap.

[B]

Oh, you hate to hear that. But it also makes sense because they, they had no reverence for this. And in fact doing it that way was almost an act. Could be seen as like an act of defiance to the culture that they are like dismantling. Right?

[A]

Well, it was very good for the camel and camel handler industry because it took more than 900 camel loads to get rid of all this bronze.

[C]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. At washablesofas.com, you'll find the Annabe sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair loveseat or a large, luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[D]

Running a business Online look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains. To find one that's right for you. Pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again. GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow Picture this.

[B]

You're halfway through a DIY car fix tools scattered everywhere, and boom. You realize you're missing a part.

[A]

It's okay because, you know, whatever it is, it's on ebay.

[B]

They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes. Whatever you need.

[A]

And it's guaranteed to fit. Which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing.

[B]

All the parts you need at prices you'll love.

[A]

Guaranteed to fit every time.

[B]

Ebay Things people love folks.

[A]

Balancing work, family and education is not easy. However, American Public University makes it possible.

[B]

With online courses, monthly start dates, and flexible schedules. APU is designed for busy professionals who need education that fits their lives.

[A]

And affordability matters as well. APU offers the opportunity grant, giving students 10% off undergraduate and master's level tuition, helping you reach your goals without breaking the bank.

[B]

Plus, they provide career services and 24. 7 mental health support at no extra cost. Visit Apu Apus Edu to learn more.

[A]

That's Apu Apus Edu and this is where we go to the idea of the Statue of Liberty. That's what we call it here in the United States, famously at New York Harbor. It is a design of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It is supposed to be. To your earlier point, Noel, it's supposed to be a mark of symbolism. It is the ancient Colossus of Rhodes. This is a one to one echo of this, and we have a couple of quotations here. Maybe we start with the dedication of the Colossus itself. We know this is quoted widely to.

[B]

You, O son, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils taken from the enemy not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely torch of freedom and independence for the descendants of Heracles belongs dominion over sea and land. Just to clarify, is this dedication text associated with the Statue of Liberty or.

[A]

Is this dedicated to the original Colossus?

[B]

That's what I thought.

[A]

Got it. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

So it's. Yeah, 100%. Get that one to one comparison there.

[A]

And the inspiration here may have come somewhat from the Colossus, but the original purpose of the Statue of Liberty, the. The statue we all know and love, was not to be put in the United States. In fact, the sculptor visited. Bartholdi visited Egypt in 1855 and he said, I'm going to work on big statues too. We're just going to tell you the truth here, folks. He saw the facade of the temple at Abu Simel and he said, look, Egyptian government, you guys should build this giant statue and maybe like a beacon of light, and it should maybe be like a woman holding a torch aloft. And you could put it at the Suez Canal and you could call it something like carrying the light to Asia. I don't know if you guys are busy, but I like building statues, so just sort of let me know. So, long story short, he did use our guy Bertoldi used the Colossus as a motivation, or what our pal Turbo Benson would call a reference. And the idea behind it, to say the Statue of Liberty is one to one based off the Colossus of Rhodes is a little bit of a stretch. But I really like your note about the crown of stars.

[B]

Yes, that's definitely what grabbed me. But also, just if you've ever walked inside the Statue of Liberty or seen any schematics of it, those internal struts are a big part of the construction of it too, which I guess is really just a logistical thing in terms of, like, design and engineering. But that did kind of also ring a bell or tick a box or, you know, whatever.

[A]

Oh, I love it. I'm making the light bulb face. I think you nailed it. Also, we could say that regardless of the motivations of the original sculptors, this has become the statue of Rhodes here in the United States.

[B]

And what would be an episode on one of the wonders of the ancient world if we didn't discuss how it figures into the Civilization games, Right?

[A]

And who better to explain this idea of the wonder of the world in the Civilization game series than our own pal, Max Williams? Max, putting you on the spot here, man.

[B]

Okay, I gotcha. Yeah, I mean, the Colossus is actually one that's showed up in all seven games now. All seven mainline games. And it's a wonder that you can build. It usually makes you money. It's never one that I'm rushing to. And when someone else builds it, I'm not that sad. But it looks really cool. And generally you have to build in a coastal city, so you can't build in the middle of the tundra.

[A]

I like building for the cinematics. I just love the cut scene where you see the thing get built and you get the little. The little quotations.

[B]

So good. Civ 7. It's good, but it's just not as good as 6. But that's, I guess, how you could describe Civ 7. Just in general it's just not as good as six.

[A]

And sometimes that's how people describe the ancient versus modern wonders of the world. You look at humanity and you say three out of five. I like their early work. We want to end with a symbolic point right to the excellent dedication you recited there, Noel. For the original Colossus of Rhodes. Here's what stands with us for the modern Colossus, the Statue of Liberty there in New York Harbor. It is a poem that is only more appropriate and important to realize now in 2025. It goes like this, not like the brazen giant of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land Here at our sea washed sunset gate shall stand a mighty woman with a torch whose flame is the imprisoned lightning and her name, mother of exiles. From her beacon hand glows worldwide welcome. Her mild eyes command the air bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep ancient lands your storied pomp, cries she with silent lips.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these the homeless tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door moving.

[B]

I swear to God, dude, I don't think I've ever heard the whole dedication. I just know the huddled masses and the little bits that are cherry picked from it and like speeches and stuff. But that is powerful. St really, really enjoyed that. And what an epic reading. Thanks, dude.

[A]

Oh, no thanks to Emma Lazarus, the author of the New Colossus. And so maybe to your earlier point, this shows us. Sorry, I'm getting a little emotional. I'm a sucker.

[B]

It's good, dude. I was feeling it. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to step on you, but when I was exclaiming during your reading, I was overcome as well, because especially God. Not to be political at all. But now more than ever, what that represents is being challenged in many ways. And it really does hit home.

[A]

And so perhaps we have a wonder of the world, our own, right? And that's why. That's why we will argue that the old Colossus of Rhodes, which totally did exist, is echoed in the Statue of Liberty, right? At least in the dedication. The idea in one of the most important cities of ancient Greece reflected in one of the most important cities in modern America. And I think Noel and Max and I all got a little perklept, as they would say when we're talking about how awesome this idea is. We have a continuing series on wonders of the ancient world and we hope you enjoyed this one, folks. We want to thank every scholar who has been looking into this and doing the real world on the ground research. Of course, we also must thank our super producer and research associate, Mr. Max Williams.

[B]

Max Williams, who found one of those incredible researchers, Mark Cartwright, who is our continuing history research protagonist, as Max put it in this story writing for World History Encyclopedia. So thanks, Mark. And thanks, Max.

[A]

And also thanks to Alexander Williams who composed this slap and bop you're hearing at the end.

[B]

A real colossus of music and other things. A real. What do you call it? A multi hyphenate polymath. Sure. That's Alex. That's our Alex.

[A]

Yeah. The opposite of a. Thanks to Jonathan Strickland, whom I blame directly for the fact that you cannot see the Colossus of Rhodes today.

[B]

He knows what he did.

[A]

He knows. He knows. Big thanks to AJ Bahamas Jacobs. Big thanks to Dr. Rachel Big Spinach Lance Big spinach.

[B]

Oh, geez. Christopher Osceo. Steve's Jeff Goat here in Spirit. Big I'm going.

[A]

I'm going to call her Big Spin. I like.

[B]

I like here in spirits. And Ben, thanks to you, buckaroo. I'm stealing it from you just for this moment because it's just fun to say.

[A]

Yeah. Also, I guess I should say I'm not a history cop.

[B]

I know. Oh, what, you're referring to the mustache?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Well, I think you look great.

[B]

We'll see you next time, folks. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[C]

Life's messy. We're talking spills, stains, pets and kids. But with Anabe, you never have to stress about Messes again. @washablesofas.com Discover Annabe Sofas. The only fully machine washable sofas in, inside and out, starting at just $699. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, Our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus their earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Upgrade your space today. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[B]

The day begins at the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the club at Boston Logan Airport. You get the clam chowder In San Diego, it's Tostadas New York. Espresso, Martin It's 10am why not? It's the quiet before your next flight, the shower that resets your day, the menu that lets you know where you are. This is access to over 1300 airport lounges and every Sapphire lounge by the club. And one card that gets you in Chase Sapphire Reserve, the most rewarding card.

[A]

Learn [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by.

[B]

JPMorgan Chase bank and a member FDIC, subject to credit approval. Honestly, Honestly, Honestly, no one wants to think about hiv. But there are things that everyone can do to help prevent it. Things like prep. PREP stands for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis, and it means routinely taking prescription medicine before you're exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it. Prep can be about 99% effective when taken as prescribed. It doesn't protect against other STIs, though, so be sure to use condoms and other healthy sex practices. Ask a healthcare provider about all your prevention Options, and visit findoutaboutprep.com to learn more. Sponsored by Gilead Chances are you've been to the doctor recently, and you probably handed over your insurance, your id, and even your Social Security number. Your doctor is just one of many places that has your personal info, and if any of them accidentally expose your details, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply. This is an iheart podcast.