Breakwaters: Port of Rhodes, ancient Greece

The Colossus of Rhodes, known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was a towering figure that stood 30 meters above the entrance to the port city of Rhodes, a Greek island relatively close to the shore of Turkey. Many artists' renditions picture the Colossus astride the entrance of the protective harbor, but historians believe that this image is likely more fanciful than correct. If that were the case, the figure, which stood for only 56 years, would have blocked the harbor's entrance when it toppled over during an earthquake in 226 BC.

Today, much smaller figures guard the entrance to the Port of Rhodes.