Greece's nightmare: Nebuchadnezzar's dream?

(Nebuchadnezzar's Dream)

In a CNBC.com article titled "Debt-choked Greece looks to sell off islands, marinas and more," Lisa Jansen asks:  Got some cash to spend?  How about a piece of the Greek islands of Rhodes or Corfu?  

This is a very far cry from the ancient days when the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the world's Seven Wonders.  This huge (over 30 meters tall) statue of Helios (the Titan who allegedly drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day) was "constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus…"  The Colossus proudly stood in the Greek City of Rhodes for over 56 years until a mighty earthquake snapped it at the knees.  Wikipedia reports that its remains lay on the ground for over 800 years. 

It was said by chronicler Saint Theophanes Confessor that these remains were then sold to a "Jewish merchant of Edessa."  He reports that this merchant "had the statue broken down, and transported the bronze scrap on the backs of 900 camels to his home."  However, Wikipedia states that Theophanes is "the sole source of this account and all other sources can be traced to him."  Some believe that this account was purposefully aligned with the biblical account of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

According to the Bible, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II "conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and sent the Jews into exile."  The destruction of Jerusalem's First Temple, as well as the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - another of the world's Seven Wonders, are also attributed to him.  In Chapter 2 of the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a "great image" with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Daniel interpreted these body parts to symbolize various worldly kingdoms that grow weaker and weaker.  In contrast, God's kingdom "will crush all those kingdoms

and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever" (Daniel 2:44, NIV).

Resources

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/08/14293553-debt-choked-greece-looks-to-sell-off-islands-marinas-and-more?lite&ocid=msnhp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II

Copyright October 9, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved