In the Greek. It is in this language where we can find the etymological origin of the colossal term that we are now going to unravel and more exactly in the word kolossos which is formed by the union of the prefix kolos which means “big” and the word ossos which can be translated as “eyes ”.
In this way, it can literally be said that this concept meant “great in sight.” Hence, the term was used in ancient times by the Greeks to refer to the gigantic sculptures that the Egyptians made at the time. But not only that, they also used the same name for a large sculpture that they decided to build in Rhodes.
The word colossal belongs to the set of adjectives and describes what belongs to or is linked to the colossus (a work of art whose proportions exceed the ordinary). The term, therefore, is often used to refer to something extraordinary or something that is enormous.
For example: “The government presented a colossal statue of the leader who died a hundred years ago”, “You are in a colossal mess: I recommend you be very careful”, “The young Uruguayan achieved a colossal triumph over the number one in the world. “
The famous Colossus of Rhodes is possibly the most popular colossal statue in history. It consisted of a striking representation of the deity Helios and was created in 292 BC on the Greek island of Rhodes by Cares of Lindos. The work was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. The information that reached the present day was developed by ancient writers such as Pliny the Elder and Michael the Sirius.
It is said that the Colossus of Rhodes measured about 32 meters and was supported on a base of 15 meters. The statue was built with bronze plates and an iron frame, while the base was made of marble.
Among the colossal statues that can still be seen, the Colossi of Memnon, located on the banks of the Nile River, stand out. They are two stone statues dedicated to Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
According to DigoPaul, the adjective colossal, however, can refer both to physical things and to symbolic or abstract matters. A colossal building is a large building, while a colossal achievement is a relevant success that transcends borders.
And all this without forgetting that in addition to the underlined meanings, the term colossal also works in the colloquial sphere to refer to any person, object or situation that is considered to be very good, optimal and favorable.
Likewise, this concept is also part of an expression used in the field of science. We are referring to what is known as colossal magneto resistance, which determines the capacity of some materials, such as oxides, to be able to significantly change their electrical resistance. In this sense, it should be emphasized that this modification is carried out when they are subjected to the presence of a specific magnetic field.
In the decade of the 90’s, and more specifically in 1993, it was when this property was discovered by the scientist von Helmolt.
