My name is Christ the Redeemer and I was built in 1931 by French sculptor by the

name of Paul Landowski and by a Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. I am built
on the Corcovado Hill. The Corcovado hill was called the mount of temptation after
the Biblical mountain with the same name, but the mountains name was changed
in 17th century. I, Christ the Redeemer, was built with only the highest quality
materials, with money raised by the catholic community, and I became a symbol of
Brazilian Christianity. As an Icon of Rio de Janerio I am a pretty big deal.
As a symbol of Brazilian Christianity I was built with 635 metric tons of
concrete and soapstone that were imported from Sweden. A Catholic priest first
suggested to have me built in the 1850s but Princess Isabel denied funding for it so
it couldnt be built then. In 1920s there was a petition to have me built, it was
successful and construction was scheduled for 1922. The funds to begin the
construction was raised by the catholic community, who raised about
$250,000(about $2.3 million today) for my construction. Before I was built there
were several designs like one where it was a statue of the Christian cross, or one
statue of Jesus holding a globe, while standing over a pedestal that was to
symbolize the earth.
The engineer and sculptor that designed and constructed me were pretty
clever because they built me to show that Christ loves all and will embrace all those
who come to him. I was constructed with my right arm point to the south of Rio de
Janerio and my left pointing to the north of it. Since I was to be built atop a
mountain, I was built in pieces that were then carried up the mountain. Some
people say that the head builder of it converted to Christianity after completing the
construction of the statue. Though I am only the 5 th largest Christ statue I am the
most recognized of all of them. The construction was completed in 1931 and I
officially became one of the 7th wonder of the world.
It was not all fine and dandy because in 2008 a violent storm left the
eyebrows and fingers damaged, and in 2010 the Statue was vandalized by a painter
who spray painter the head and arm with graffiti, but recently there was a
restoration attempt and in the restoration effort the used the same stones they
used in the initial construction of it.
In conclusion there is a lot of story behind this simple Christ statue. I may be
the 5th largest Christ Statue, but I am the most recognized and the most symbolic,
and without the faithful catholic community, the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss,
and the men responsible for my creation Paul Landowski and Heitor da Silva Costa. I
am Christ the Redeemer and I will be here and in the peoples hearts for a long
time. <3