logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
29m 18s

The Colossus of Rhodes

History Hit
About this episode

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes has lived on in legend - with fact and fiction often blurring. A 108 ft high statue of the Sun God Helios, it was erected in celebration by the people of Rhodes after successfully defending the island against Alexander the Great's successors in 304 BC. But what happened to this monumental statue, and why did it only stand for 50 years?


In this episode Tristan is joined by Professor Andrew Erskine to delve into this iconic monument and the legacy it left. From Alexander the Great to Game of Thrones, what can we learn about the Colossus of Rhodes, and just how wonderful was it really?


The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie

The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe

Edited by Aidan Lonergan


For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. 


If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code ANCIENTS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.


To download, go to Android > or Apple store >


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Emperor Tiberius: Monster or Misunderstood?
<p>*WARNING: This podcast contains adult themes and discussion of paedophilia*</p><br><p>A brilliant general. A brooding autocrat. A recluse surrounded by scandal. Few Roman emperors divide opinion like Tiberius. But was he truly a monster, or the victim of centuries of salacious ... Show More
53m 10s
Nov 20
Zoroastrianism
<p>A faith born in the distant prehistoric past, rooted in ancient Iranian texts over 4,000 years old, Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest living religions. and one that shaped empires.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Profes ... Show More
1 h
Nov 16
Decline & Fall of the Ancient World
<p>Tristan Hughes invites Matt Lewis, host <em>The Ancients's </em>sister podcast <em>Gone Medieval</em>, for a lively debate with about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion Roman Emperor Justinian as an Ancient? What about Charlemagn ... Show More
46m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
The Colosseum
Voted one of the seven modern wonders of the world, Rome’s Colosseum is an instantly recognizable building. Constructed by Emperor Flavian in the first century AD as a gift to his people, and still standing almost two millennia later, it has a rich and fascinating history. Films ... Show More
53m 36s
Sep 2023
The Legacy of Rome
<p>Rome has attracted aspiring conquerors and leaders for millennia, not just as a great metropolis, but as an idea. It has long been a symbol of military might and universal power, defined by political and religious authority as well as great feats of engineering that would leav ... Show More
23m 24s
Aug 2021
The Gladiators
In the first-ever episode of Short History Of… we take a trip back in time to Ancient Rome, to discover the bizarre and barbaric world of the gladiators. But who were these mysterious warriors? And how much truth lies behind the legends? Take your seat in the Roman Colosseum, the ... Show More
48m 23s
Mar 2024
Warfare in Ancient Greece
<p>How did warfare work in Ancient Greece? The weapons and armour of the Greek hoplite are legendary, as are the warrior cultures of city-states like Sparta. But how would a Greek battle have played out on the ground?</p><br><p>Dan is joined by Roel Konijnendijk, Darby Fellow in ... Show More
49m 15s
Sep 2023
369. The Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death
“Are you not entertained?!”  The emblem of Rome, the Colosseum was the unsettling but glamorous home of Roman violence, used for gladiatorial bouts, naval reenactments, and by the emperors to re-stage popular myths. Built by the Flavian dynasty in the first century AD, it is both ... Show More
53m 53s
Dec 2023
La fin d'un empire : le cas d'Alexandre le Grand
<p>Mes chers camarades, bien le bonjour !</p><p>Vous connaissez tous Alexandre le Grand, roi de Macédoine et sans doute un des plus grands personnages de l’Antiquité, voire de l’Histoire. Vous savez probablement qu’il a eu un des plus grands empires du monde, et j’ai moi même par ... Show More
21m 2s
Jan 2024
The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
<p>People have always looked to the wonders of the ancient world for awe and inspiration. In the Ancient era, people embarked on dangerous pilgrimages to visit storied sites like the Pyramids of Giza, or the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. While only one of them remains, they still ex ... Show More
31m 52s
Feb 2024
94. Alexandre le Grand
<p>À l'âge de 32 ans, Alexandre le Grand avait déjà conquis un empire s'étendant de la Grèce à l'Inde. </p><p>Un territoire plus vaste que celui de n'importe quel autre conquérant avant lui. </p><p><br></p><p>Mais qui était cet homme ? Un génie militaire ? Un guerrier impitoyable ... Show More
15m 35s
Feb 2024
Who Really Was Boudica?
<p>She's the warrior queen who took on the mighty Roman Empire, but who really was Boudica?</p><br><p>Separating facts from the myths we've read can be tricky, but thankfully Kate is joined by the wonderful Emma Southon, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/ ... Show More
41m 28s
May 2022
Food in the Ancient World
<p>When we think of the modern Mediterranean, delicious and vibrant food is one of the first things that come to mind. But how much has the regional food changed over the last two millennia? In this episode, Tristan is joined by the host of&nbsp;<em>'The Delicious Legacy'</em>&nb ... Show More
36m 24s