Lego Oedipus, Lego Lord Elgin and Lego Sigmund Freud are on their way to Greece along with Lego Acropolis as part of a generous gift from the University of Sydney’s Nicholson Museum (NM) to the Acropolis Museum. NM’s Senior Curator Michael Turner jokes that though the British Museum refuses to return the Parthenon Marbles, but the Australian lego copy will be donated in its entirety.

Creator of the Lego Parthenon is Ryan McNaught, the only Lego-certified professional in the southern hemisphere. It took him over 300 hours to work with 120,000 blocks in order to create the iconic landmark. The work shows the Acropolis as it was in all its glory in the fifth century BC. The model includes the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the amphitheater that is still used as a concert venue. There are many tongue-in-cheek figures in the model that appeal to modern-day visitors such as a Lego Oedipus plucking out his eyes with blood spilling over the stage and a Lego Elton John performing for tourists.

The work was created following the success of Lego Colosseum that drew 90,000 visitors to the NM in 2012, however Lego Acropolis outdid this with 100,000 visitors. There was huge interest, especially from families with children, showing that an ancient site can indeed become accessible.

What the NM didn’t expect, however, was the interest from the Acropolis Museum that e-mailed Mr. Turner asking if it could borrow the model to attract younger visitors. Mr. Turner got back to the museum and said – no – they couldn’t borrow it, they could keep it! “Of all the museums in the world I would like to see the Lego Acropolis end up in, this is without a doubt the one and only,” he says. With Lego Acropolis now with the Acropolis Museum, the new NM lego model will be Lego Pompeii in January.

Lego Acropolis draws mini tourists…

Elton John entertains an audience at the Herod Atticus Theater…

Sitting under an olive tree…

University of Sydney NM Curator Michael Turner was thrilled to have the Lego Acropolis end up at the Acropolis Museum…

Ancient Greek Hoplites paraded at the University of Sydney to tout the NM’s Lego Acropolis exhibition…