罗德岛的太阳神巨像(3/3)

To celebrate their unity, the Rhodians sold the equipment and used the money to erect an enormous statue of their sun god, Helios. The construction of the Colossus took 12 years and was finished in 282 BC. For years, the statue stood at the harbor entrance, until a strong earthquake hit Rhodes about 226 BC. The city was badly damaged, and the Colossus was broken at its weakest point the knee. The Rhodians received an immediate offer from Ptolemy III of Egypt to cover all restoration costs for the toppled monument. However, an oracle was consulted and forbade the re-erection. Ptolemy's offer was declined.

罗德斯人为了颂扬他们团结一致(的精神)，把这些军事设备变卖后，用所得的钱建造了他们的太阳神赫利俄斯的巨大雕像。 建造这座巨像花了12年的时间，于公元前282年完工。巨像在港口矗立了许多年，直到公元前226年一次强烈的地震突袭了罗德岛。 城市遭到严重的破坏，巨像也从它最不牢固的地方, 膝盖处断裂开了。 罗德岛人得到了埃及托勒密三世及时的援助，这笔援款足够应付修缮这座倾倒的纪念碑所需的全部花费。 但是，一纸神谕却阻止巨像的重建。而托勒密的援助也被谢绝了。