In sculpture, a colossus is a statue of enormous magnitude. The Asiatics, the Egyptians, and in particular the Greeks, have excelled in these works. The most celebrated Egyptian colossus was the vocal statue of Memnon in the plain of Thebes, supposed to be identical with the most northerly of two existing colossi (60 feet high) on the west bank of the Nile.
Among the colossi of Greece the most celebrated was the Colossus of Rhodes, a brass statue of Apollo 70 cubits high, esteemed one of the wonders of the world, erected at the port of Rhodes by Chares, 290 or 288 BC. It was knocked down by an earthquake about 224 BC. The statue was in ruins for nearly nine centuries, when the Saracens, taking Rhodes, sold the metal, weighing 720,900 lbs, to a Jew, about 653. There is no authority for the popularly-received statement that it bestrode the harbour mouth, and that the Rhodian vessels could pass under its legs.
Among the colossi of Phidias were the Olympian Zeus and the Athena of the Parthenon; the former 60 feet high and the latter 40 feet.
The most famous of the Roman colossi were the Jupiter of the Capitol, the Apollo of the Palatine Library, and the statue of Nero, 110 or 120 feet high, and from which the contiguous amphitheatre derived its name of Colosseum.
Among modern works of this nature is the colossus of San Carlo Borromeo, at Arona, in the Milanese territory, 60 feet in height; the 'Bavaria' at Munich, 65 feet high; the statue of Hermann or Arminius near Detmold, erected in 1875, 90 feet in height to the point of the upraised sword, which itself is 24 feet in length; the height of the figure to the point of the helmet being 55 feet;
the statue of Germania, erected in 1883 near Rudesheim, a figure 34 feet high, placed on an elaborately-sculptured pedestal over 81 feet high; and Bartholdi's statue of Liberty presented to the United States by the French nation, and which measures 104 feet or to the extremity of the torch in the hand of the figure 138 feet. It is erected at New York harbour on a pedestal 114 feet, is constructed for a lighthouse with what was at one time was one of the most powerful fixed lights in the world, and stands 317 feet above mean tide. Research Colossus
The Dory or John Dory (Zeus faber),is a fish belonging to the mackerel family, celebrated for the delicacy of ita flesh. It seldom exceeds 45 cm in length, and is yellowish-green in colour with a blackish spot on each side, which, according to an old superstition, is the mark of St Peter's forefinger and thumb. The dory is found on the Atlantic shores of Europe and in the Mediterranean, The name John Dory is supposed to be derived from the French jaune dorw, golden yellow. Research Dory
Adonis was a Phoenician god symbolising vegetation scorched by the heat of the sun, adopted by Greek mythology as a mortal favourite of Aphrodite. According to Greek mythology, Adonis was a son of Myrrha who had been changed into a myrtle tree by the gods. When Adonis was born, Aphrodite hid him in a chest which she gave to Persephone for safe keeping. Persephone, upon opening the chest was so struck by the beauty of the infant Adonis that she decided to keep him. Aphrodite appealed to Zeus, who decided that Adonis should spend a third of each year with Zeus, Aphrodite and Persephone. When Adonis grew up, Aphrodite fell in love with him but he was killed by a wild boar while out hunting. Upon finding him Aphrodite caused the plant the anemone to rise from his blood. Research Adonis
In Greek mythology, Aeacus was a son of Zeus and Aegina, born on the island of Aegina, of which he became the ruler. His sons Telamon and Peleus abandoned the island, Telamon going to Salamis and Peleus to Phthia. After his death, Zeus made him a judge of the shades in Hades with Minos and Rhadamanthus. Research Aeacus
In Greek mythology, Agave was a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. She married Echion. Agave, along with her sisters refused to recognise Dionysus and mocked their sister Semele's claims that Dionysus was the son of Zeus. As a result
Agave and her sisters were punished with madness, a madness that caused Agave to tear her own son Pentheus to pieces. Research Agave
In Greek mythology, Agenor was a son of Poseidon and Libya. He became king of Phoenicia. He married Telephassa who bore him Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix and Cilix. When Zeus abducted Europa, Agenor sent his sons to find her, they went accompanied by their mother and none returned. In Greek mythology Agenor was a son of Antenor. He fought in the Trojan War, and saved the Trojans by challenging the Greek champion when Achilles was about to storm the Scaean Gates. Apollo kept Agenor safe, and later assumed the shape of
Agenor to divert Achilles' attention. In Greek mythology, Agenor was a king of Pleuron, and the father of Thestius. Research Agenor
In Greek mythology, Alcmene is the virgin goddess of midwinter, midwinter's moon, the new year, stateliness, beauty and wisdom.
Alcmene was the wife of Amphitryon. Zeus visited Alcmene in the form of her husband, and the child of their union was the Greek hero Hercules. Research Alcmene
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Colossus
