List of colossal sculptures in situ

A colossal statue is one that is more than twice life-size.^[1] This is a list of colossal statues and other sculptures that were created, mostly or all carved, and remain in situ. This list includes two colossal stones that were intended to be moved. However, they were never broken free of the quarry in which they were carved, and therefore they would be considered carved in situ. Most of these were carved in ancient times.

In many cases, especially in India, these sculptures were carved out of softer rocks like

dolerite balls to chip away at the granite.^[2] Dynamite was used in the carving of Mount Rushmore

's Shrine of Democracy, one of the few colossal sculptures that was carved out of granite.

Africa

Egypt

Great Sphinx of Giza – limestone
Abu Simbel temples – sandstone
The unfinished obelisk at Aswan – granite
Seti I ^{[citation needed]} – limestone

Ethiopia

Lalibela – tuff
- Church of Saint George, Lalibela – tuff

Asia

Afghanistan

Buddhas of Bamiyan, destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban

Armenia

Geghard Monastery

China

Fuxi sculpture at Xianshan Mountain, Xiangyang
Leshan Giant Buddha
Bingling Temple

Saudi Arabia

Mada'in Saleh

Sri Lanka

Turkey

Americas

Colombia

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca

Ecuador

El poder brutal, Quito

Peru

Chachapoya cliff tombs at Revash^[3]

Chavín de Huantar's Old Temple^[4]

United States

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota – granite
Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota – pegmatite granite (work in progress)
Stone Mountain, Georgia – granite

Europe

Bulgaria

Madara Rider

Czech Republic

Čertovy hlavy

Greece

Lion of Bavaria, Nafplio

Italy

Pantalica, Sicily

Santoni, Sicily
Sassi di Matera, Basilicata

Poland

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Romania

Rock sculpture of Decebalus

Switzerland

Lion Monument

References

^ Collins online dictionary: Colossal "2. (in figure sculpture) approximately twice life-size."; entry in the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online
^ Edwards, Dr. I.E.S.: The Pyramids of Egypt 1986/1947 p. 269-273
^ Archeology magazine Jan/Feb 2008 p. 40-45
^ The Early Ceremonial Center of Chavín de Huántar, Berger p. 130

[1] Collins online dictionary: Colossal "2. (in figure sculpture) approximately twice life-size."; entry in the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online

[2] Edwards, Dr. I.E.S.: The Pyramids of Egypt 1986/1947 p. 269-273

[3] Archeology magazine Jan/Feb 2008 p. 40-45

[4] The Early Ceremonial Center of Chavín de Huántar, Berger p. 130

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