The Seven Wonders of the Modern World - Third Entry.

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Fifth Position - Christ the Redeemer.

Christ the Redeemer is a monumental Art Deco statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and it was constructed between 1922 and 1931. In my opinion, this is the greatest statue of Jesus ever made. The perfection is such that every detail seems to be profoundly calculated, as the symmetry of the head and arms of the statue that somehow are similar to the shape of the Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), even though it can just be a matter of mere coincidence, it still is wonderfully pleasing. Moreover, the fine design and the view from which you can admire this Wonder surely makes it the world’s most interesting and beautiful statue ever made.

About the Wonder:

The statue is located at the peak of the 700-meter (2,300 ft.) Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park. It weighs 635 metric tons (625 long, 700 short tons).

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/385409680610498036/

History:

In the mid-1850s, the idea of placing a Christian monument was first suggested by Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss, to honor Princess Isabel, regent of Brazil and the daughter of Emperor Pedro II, but the project was not approved. It wasn’t until1920 that the group The Catholic Circle of Rio made a second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain. To support the building of the statue, the group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures. Most of the financial support came from the Brazilian Catholic community. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931 and cost the equivalent of US$250,000 (equivalent to $3,600,000 in 2019) and the monument opened on October 12, 1931. Later on, the statue became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7th, 2007.

Importance and significance:

Christ the Redeemer was built as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity and as landmark statue of Rio de Janeiro. It also is the largest art deco statue in the world. The position of statue with the opened arms is meant to show that Christ loves all and will embrace all that come to him. One of the main facts that prove its importance and significance is the symbolism. Statues have been, among other things, used to symbolize a person’s life and work; but at the same time, they have multiple meanings. Christ the Redeemer, with the opened arms, symbolizes love, peace, protection for people around it and for the ones that believe in its love. However, the most important symbol is the reflection of God’s light (blessing) and the base of his home and community: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What also characterizes the statue and makes it more important than others is its aesthetic. The whole design evokes beauty; the material and style are of the most refined taste. The outstretched arms create the holy figure of the Latin cross; this balanced proportion works as both: a pleasure to the human eye and the most popular Christian iconography, invoking a very strong emotion for Christianity. The materials used for the construction are light-colored with the purpose of reflecting light from the sun, moon and surrounding lights and spotlights.