48

HISTORY OF ENGINEERING.

Book I.

trius renewed the attack with all his vigour, and at night determined to carry the city byassault: a great slaughter on both sides was the result; but the Rhodians were triumphant,and forced Demetrius to accede to the following terms: — “ That the city should be subjectto its own laws, and be left without a garrison.” Thus the Rhodians , after a twelvemonth’ssiege, put an end to the wars, soon afterwards repaired the theatre, and rebuilt the templeand walls.

By some historians it is asserted that Demetrius was at last so reconciled to the Rhodians ,and so much admired the courage they had displayed, that he presented them with all theengines he had employed, and that it was by the sale of these for 300 talents, that theyraised the famous Colossus on the two rocks at the entrance of the port, which was astatue of brass, erected in honour of Apollo, the tutelary god of the island ; it was 70 cubitsor 125 feet in height, and vessels could pass between its legs.

Pliny describes it as the work of Chares of Lindus, a pupil of Lysippus , and observesthat its thumb was a fathom in circumference ; that it was made hollow, and had a liningof stone, to render it steady on its feet. It stood erect for sixty years, and was throwndown by an earthquake, which Polybius tells us destroyed the walls and naval arsenalsat the same time. The Colossus, however, lay where it fell for 894 years, until Moavias,the sixth caliph of the Saracens , sold the metal to a Jew , who loaded 900 camels withit, the weight being estimated at upwards of 300 tons.

The Rhodians , after its fall, and the injury their city had sustained, solicited help fromthe kings of Egypt , Macedon, Syracuse , Syria , Pontus, and Bithynia , to enable them torestore it. From Hiero and Gelo they received 75 talents of silver, some silver caldrons,and other presents, which together were valued at 100 talents, and also 50 catapults ofthe length of 3 cubits.

Ptolemy engaged to furnish them with 300 talents of silver, a million measures of corn,timber to build 10 quinqueremes, and 10 triremes, some square pieces of fir, the contents ofwhich were 40,000 cubits, 1,000 talents of brass coin ; 3,000 weight of hemp, 3,000 piecesof cloth for sails, 3,000 talents for replacing their Colossus; 100 architects, and 350labourers ; with 14 talents by the year for their subsistence; 12,000 measures of corn forthe sacrifices and games, and 20,000 for the 10 triremes.

Antigonus gave them 10,000 pieces of timber that would cut into scantling from 8 to16 cubits; 5,000 planks of 7 cubits ; 3,000 weight of iron ; 1,000 measures of pitch, and1,000 measures of tar, as well as 100 talents in money.

Chryseis, his wife, sent 100,000 measures of corn, and 3,000 weight of lead.

Seleucus , the father of Antiochus , gave 10 quinqueremes completely equipped, 200,000measures of corn, 10,000 cubits of timber, and 1,000 weight of hair and resin.

By all these and other gifts, Polybius tells us, the Rhodians soon restored their city to itsformer magnificence; but they were ordered by the oracle at Delphos not to replace theColossus, but to use the presents they received for other purposes.

Isene is another ancient port, which once contained a fine harbour: its ruins proclaim

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Fig. 56.

ISENE.