ROME’S most famous monument — the Colosseum — will fit inside the Albury Library Museum tomorrow.
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Thousands of slaves were used to build the ancient amphitheatre that opened in 80AD, but just one man has created this large-scale model.
Former Shepparton man Ryan McNaught, also known as “the Brickman”, used about 250,000 pieces of Lego to create the building.
McNaught is Australia’s only Lego certified professional, and built the Colosseum for the University of Sydney’s Nicholson Museum.
The oval-shaped construction from square Lego bricks was his most technically challenging build to date.
The model is part of a touring exhibition, Lego Colosseum, which opens tomorrow.
Assistant curator Candace Richards said half of the model was presented in its ruined form, while the other half represents the original Colosseum in all of its former glory.
The exhibition also features sculptural works, gladiatorial armour, coins of the emperors and other Roman artefacts that are part of the Nicholson Museum’s permanent collection.
The Lego model, standing at more than one metre high, 1.3 metres wide and 1.8 metres long, is the centrepiece of the exhibition and tells the story of Rome’s largest surviving building from the great days of the Roman Empire.
Construction of the stone Colosseum began under the emperor Vespasian in 70AD, and was completed in 80AD under his successor and heir Titus.
It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.
There will be piles of Lego on offer at the museum for residents to build their own masterpiece during the exhibition, which is open until February 15.
There will also be Lego building workshops held in January.
For more information, visit alburycity.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/museum/lego-colosseum.