Bring on the gladiators! Lego builder creates astonishing model of Rome's Colosseum using 200,000 bricks

By Anthony Bond
PUBLISHED: 01:06 GMT, 18 July 2012 | UPDATED: 01:48 GMT, 18 July 2012

Most of us have heard of the phrase Rome Wasn't Built In a Day.
But it's probably fair to say that certified Lego builder Ryan McNaught has a greater appreciation than most of how true that statement is.
That's because he has just created the world's first Lego Colosseum.

Incredible: Certified Lego builder Ryan McNaught has just created the world's first Lego Colosseum

Detail: He used 200,000 Lego bricks to build the model, which includes half in its present day ruined form and half as it was when Rome's original Colosseum was built circa 80 AD

As these incredible pictures show, he has gone into extraordinary detail to recreate the famous monument in Lego form.
He used 200,000 Lego bricks to build the model, which includes half in its present day ruined form and half as it was when Rome's original Colosseum was built circa 80 AD.

Speaking to Gizmodo, the talented builder said: 'I’ve really got a new appreciation for the Romans and how they made things.
'For me, the challenge of making something oval-shaped out of square bricks was mind-boggling.'

Amazed: The talented Lego professional said he now has a new appreciation for the Romans and how they made things

Impressive: The model is incredibly detailed and even shows tourists milling about as well as statues, gardens and mini-animals

Mr McNaught went into incredible detail when building the model. Tourists from the present day can be seen milling about, close to ice cream stalls.
While gladiators can be seen fighting from its gory past. He also designed gardens, statues and mini animals to make it as realistic as possible.
The Colosseum was made for the University of Sydney and is now on view at the Nicholson Museum in Melbourne, Australia, until January 2013.

Hard work: The builder said the challenge of making something oval-shaped out of square bricks was 'mind-boggling'

Attraction: The Colosseum was made for the University of Sydney and is now on view at the Nicholson Museum in Melbourne, Australia, until January 2013

Mr McNaught is also called 'The Brickman' and is married with twin sons.
He is a Lego certified professional - one of only 13 in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.
His speciality is making interactive models, which people can be inspired by.
He has previously built a pain-staking replica of a Qantas A380 plane from scratch.