Joe Bigelow is entered in the “Steampunk Myths and Legends” update: View Challenge Page
Latest Update: Concept / pre-visualization: This is the idea that came to me
Steampunk Myths and Legends Entry: Joe Bigelow
figueroa
#3
Colossus of Rhodes [color=yellow]Steampunk Style—[/color]
I have always wondered what the heck this thing looked like…now I get to give a steampunk view with a bit of a history thrown in…I am not sure if anyone has started one but if they have I think mine will be hopefully divergent enough to be different. I am probaly going to stick some shapes together in blender to see what sort of anamorphic shape I can get. I am still not sure If I am going all tin can man or not too. We’ll see. What ar your thoughts?
Here is a bit of history
Preserved in Greek anthologies of poetry is what is believed to be the genuine dedication text for the Colossus. - Wikipedia
[i]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 taken from the enemy. Not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely torch of freedom and independence. For to the descendants of Herakles belongs dominion over sea and land.[/i]
Let us first clear a misconception about the appearance of the Colossus. It has long been believed that the Colossus stood in front of the Mandraki harbor, one of many in the city of Rhodes, straddling its entrance. Given the height of the statue and the width of the harbor mouth, this picture is rather impossible than improbable. Moreover, the fallen Colossus would have blocked the harbor entrance. Recent studies suggest that it was erected either on the eastern promontory of the Mandraki harbor, or even further inland. Anyway, it did never straddle the harbor entrance.
The project was commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos. To build the statue, his workers cast the outer bronze skin parts. The base was made of white marble, and the feet and ankle of the statue were first fixed. The structure was gradually erected as the bronze form was fortified with an iron and stone framework. To reach the higher parts, an earth ramp was built around the statue and was later removed. When the colossus was finished, it stood about 33 m (110 ft) high. And when it fell, “few people can make their arms meet round the thumb”, wrote Pliny.
Although we do not know the true shape and appearance of the Colossus of rhodes, modern reconstructions with the statue standing upright are more accurate than older drawings. Although it disappeared from existence, the ancient World Wonder inspired modern artists such as French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi best known by his famous work: The Statue of Liberty.
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.