Colossus of Rhodes Colouring

The Colossus of Rhodes was an enormous bronze statue of Helios, the sun god honoured by the people of the Greek island of Rhodes. It was built in the early third century BCE to celebrate the city's successful defence after a long siege. The sculptor Chares of Lindos directed the project, which ancient traditions say took about twelve years. The completed statue may have stood roughly 32 or 33 metres high, similar to a modern ten-storey building. Bronze plates formed its outer surface around a supporting framework, creating a figure that could be seen from far across the city and harbour area. Its exact pose and location are still debated because no complete ancient image survives. A popular later story shows the Colossus straddling the harbour entrance, but historians consider that pose unlikely. This colouring page instead places Helios safely on a strong pedestal beside the harbour. The sun-ray crown makes the god easy to recognise, while a small boat shows the statue's enormous scale. An earthquake toppled the Colossus in 226 BCE, only a few decades after it was completed. Even fallen, its pieces remained famous for centuries. The statue was never rebuilt, so artists and historians use written clues, coins and knowledge of ancient bronze work to imagine it. Colour the statue bronze, copper, golden brown or weathered green. You can use warm gold on the side facing the sun and darker brown along the opposite side. A little blue-green patina on the feet or robe edge can suggest aged bronze. Make the sun-ray crown bright yellow or gold and the pedestal cream, grey or sandy beige. The sailing boat can have a red, blue or striped sail with a warm wooden hull. Use turquoise and deep blue for the harbour water, leaving white along the gentle wave tops. The distant shore may be pale tan with a few green plants, and the sky can be light blue with a golden sun. Follow the statue's long body with smooth vertical strokes, then use short curved strokes on the waves. Keep the small boat colourful but simple so the towering Helios remains the main feature. Your finished page should feel sunny, strong and welcoming while also teaching that this famous harbour guardian was real, but its exact appearance remains a historical puzzle.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

Download JPEGHigh-resolution A4 image Download PDFPrint-ready A4 file

Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.