Interesting Facts about Christ the Redeemer- Fun Facts about Christ the Redeemer

Honored recently among the Seven Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer statue stands tall at the Corcovado Mountain near the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Also known as ‘Cristo Redentor’ in Portuguese, this statue is regarded as one of the finest examples of manmade architecture. Over the years, the statue had undergone many renovations. The statue symbolizes Christianity and is an icon of Rio and Brazil. It is one of the most recognized statues in the world. Christ with his arms open in the statue is symbolical of the love Christ had for one and all. The magnificence of this statue is also featured in several films and has inspired many poems. From the statue one derives the meaning that He seems to embrace everyone who comes to Him. Want to know more? Explore to find some of the interesting and fun facts about Christ the Redeemer.

Fun & Interesting Facts about Christ the Redeemer

This statue was built in the 1931. Construction started in 1922 and was completed in 1931. It took a span of nine years to complete it.
The cost of the monument was $250,000.
This statue is one of the biggest statues in the world.
It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.
It takes about 220 steps to see the statue up close.
The statue stands 38 metres tall and weighs 700 short tons (635 tonnes)
It is located at Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city.
The left arm points to the Rio de Janeiro's north zone, the right to the south zone, while the saintly perch offers spectacular views of Ipanema, the Maracana soccer stadium and the Serra do Órgãos mountain range.
The original design for this statue was made by a man named Oswald. He had designed it to have a globe in one, and standing over a pedestal symbolizing the world. This design was not agreed on.
Then, the idea of having the statue with wide open arms was made by Heitor da Silva Costa. The idea was further created into form by French sculptor Paul Landowski.
The reason why it was built was to show that the Christ loves all.
The reason why it was built with wide open arms is to embrace all that come to him.
In October 2006, on the statue's 75th anniversary, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel, named for the patron saint of Brazil - Nossa Senhora Aparecida, under the statue. This allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there.
On July 7, 2007, it was honored as one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World.
The Catholic community of Brazil donated the money for building the statue of Christ.
The stones of the statue were brought from Sweden.
Christ the Redeemer was officially displayed to the public in 1932, by the then President of Brazil, Getulio Vargas.
This colossal statue inspired many poems and songs such as Ben Harper’s ‘Blessed to be a Witness’ and Tom Jobim’s ‘Corcovado’.
Although it was struck by lightning in 2008, the statue suffered minimal damage. This was due to the soapstone exterior on the statue, which performed as an insulator. However, the fingers, eyebrows and head of the statue got damaged.
The statue was first built in pieces and by means of Corcovado Rack Railway these were carried to the mountain top, where it was erected.
The IPHAN or Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional declared Christ the Redeemer as a protected monument.
In 2010, the statue was exposed to an act of vandalism, when it was spray painted by a vandal.

How to Cite

Facts About Christ The Redeemer

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Travel'