What was the Colossus used for?
Helios
The colossus of Rhodes was a large statue of the sun god Helios, straddling over the entrance of the harbour 110 feet high. Pliny wrote, "few people can make their arms meet round the thumb". The colossus was a celebration of the sun in a way that the Christ the Redeemer is a celebration of the saviour.
Lighthouse
The intended purpose of the Bronze statue called the Colossus of Rhodes was that of a lighthouse, one of the statue's arms was holding a torch in much the same manner as the Statue of Liberty. However, it seemes it never performed that role as shortly after it's completion it was brought down in pieces by an earthquake and a few centuries later, the bronze pieces were bought by an arms' trader and melted into weapons.
The Colossus of Rhodes was used as a type of lighthouse to guide wayward ships to the port. A fire kindled in its head could be seen far out to sea.
