Roman Temple

As a kid who grew up in the 1990s, I was obsessed with two things. 

Fast forward to now, and after well over a decade of dark ages, not much has changed. I have always wanted a set based on the Roman Empire and so each time LEGO have released an ancient civilisation related minifigure, I have crossed my fingers for it. But without one ever coming, I decided to build my own.

My build - a Roman temple complete with a barbarian attack, an assassination of a senator, and the chaos of the Gods - is the set I always dreamed of as a kid. 

While it's loosely based on a few real-life examples (the Maison Carrée in particular), it is also has a fair amount of creative licence and evokes the fun and life of the best Lego modulars (yes - it is modular and can slot in anywhere in your town). I had a blast building it and still have fun with it once it's built. I hope you like it and will consider supporting it too.

At the front of the Roman temple, a Roman legionary attempts to stop a barbarian attack. He fights a barbarian attacker on the temple steps against the backdrop of two brick-built statues (one of Minerva, one of Mars), hoping to protect a senator that has been praying.

The doors can be opened to reveal the inside of the temple where a statue of Mercury stands amongst an ornately decorated floor and surrounded by statues on all sides. It is here that the Roman senator prays, oblivious to Mercury's missing spear and another attacker waiting in the wings. For playability, the ceiling and roof are fully removable to allow easy access.

But for all the carnage below, the real games are above, in the temple roof, accessible only to the gods through a secret door at the back. The vaulted ceiling hides the mechanism that allows you to spin the gold ring at the front of the temple to open the secret door. Through that door, and accessible via the removable roof, are the Roman Gods, doing what they do best. Happily endorsing destruction.

This set has eight minifigs.

The Gods (x4)

Jupiter - Stationed at the war table where he games the battle happening below

Neptune - Relaxing in a golden bathing pool with his fish companions

Venus - Holding red roses and absorbed by her own image in the mirror

Mars - Accompanied by a wolf pup, Mars sleeps in his helmet after drinking too much wine

The Humans (x4)

Senator - Roman senator who attends the temple for his prayers

Legionary - Roman soldier who acts as the senator's guard and attempts to protect him from the attacker

Male Barbarian - He attacks the Roman senator, hoping to assassinate him while unprotected in the temple using a spear and very little armour

Female Assassin - She hides in the temple, using the attack outside as a diversion to distract even the Gods so that she can strike