Word from Mythology: Colossal

The English word colossal is from the Latin colossus, a word that is in turn borrowed from Greek kolossos. The Greek word meant a gigantic statue, originally the Colossus of Rhodes. The English word now refers to anything that is huge in size.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a gigantic statue of the Greek god Helios, one of the Titans. It was erected in the year 280 B.C.E. and was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can read more about the Colossus of Rhodes at Wikipedia.

The caption to the illustration below reads "The Colossus of Rhodes, a prodigious brass statue dedicated to the Sun, which, holding fire in its right hand, served for a sea light to ships; for lighting the fire there was a staircase (that) went through one of his legs, through the inside of the body and arm."