kolossen

Kolossen is the Dutch plural noun for colossi, referring to large statues or monumental sculptures, and by extension to anything of enormous size or impact. The term derives from the Latin colossus and has entered Dutch through historical and literary usage. In contemporary language, kolossen can describe both ancient monuments and striking modern structures that evoke a sense of scale.

In archaeology and art history, kolossen commonly denote famous ancient statues such as the Colossus of Rhodes and the Colossi of Memnon. The Colossus of Rhodes, erected around 280 BCE on the island of Rhodes, stood about 33 meters tall and represented the sun god Helios; it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, dating to the 14th century BCE, which guarded the mortuary temple at Thebes and have endured as prominent examples of Egyptian monumental sculpture, though heavily weathered over time.

In modern usage, the term kolossen is also employed metaphorically to describe anything exceptionally large or imposing, from architectural projects to natural formations. It appears in Dutch-language literature and media to convey scale and grandeur, and it can be used more broadly to discuss monumental works or figures in culture and history.