Oddities, curiousities and strangness in history

The Manchester Museum has international standing as a seat of research and regularly contributes to important historical research in Egyptology, I doubt very much that the PR department would cook up such an obvious crowd pleaser, academics do not generally stoop to such things, and if it was uncovered as a fraud it would be very negative publicity to the whole University and museum. So in my mind someone deliberately tampering is completely out of the question. Unless of course its a rogue museum assistant with a weird sense of humour.

So what you're telling me is...

Night at the Museum was a documentary!

Spoiler:

Does seem suss it doesnt move at all when the place is closed for the night- yet it moves all day when staff are there.  

I thought the vibration explanation sort of made sense. Either footsteps or maybe there's construction work going on nearby...?

as I said, if its one rogue assistant thats fair cop, but in no way shape or form would this kind of activity be sanctioned from the museum proper. They are too well respected in the field, and are serious academics. Their Egyptology department is the holy grail for researchers into Egyptology, their collection of mummies is incredible, if a little yucky.

"I thought of this when I heard about the story yesterday before I saw Azriel's post, but she beat me to the joke." Eldo.
Sorry !
I dont think in reality that academics would jepodise their reputation, must be someone having a laugh ? Is there a physics student running amok with magnets ?

Academics will do anything to keep their grants- and this has coincidentally severally boosted visitor numbers, which Im sure is just a stroke of luck and a complete coincidence....

You're kidding right? Manchester? Swansea Egypt Centre FTW!

they will not pull a stunt like this to get a grant, and they dont need to either. they have plenty of cash. The new Ancient Worlds galleries are supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Monument Trust, The Headley Trust, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, The Barker Foundation, The Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust, Manchester Ancient Egypt Society and by the exhibition Tutankhamun-His Tomb And His Treasures. so lots and lots of cash coming in.

But I think its vibration causing it to move, not some deliberate hoax.

I've seen archives with seismographs to watch for such vibrations. It would seem to be easy to check. Daytime vibrations are typically a lot stronger due to traffic, construction, heating and cooling etc. I'm wondering if the staff haven't already got it figured, and the press is just having fun with it.

yes I think its probably the press who are creating a buzz rather than the museum staff themselves. its all good for visitors, so they would be quite glad of it, but they wont have done it deliberately. Its just a nice interest story, as everyone loves an ancient Egypt story.

My guess would be an imperfection in the statue base, or a bit of dirt thats got underneath if its sitting on a smooth or glass shelf then vibrations would allow it to move.

yep you are probably right. also the statues centre of gravity might be making it rotate. if the statue is heavier at the front or leaning slightly. I dont know the exact physics, but its probably that. it is odd that in 80 years this is the first time its moved.

Thats why I am inclined towrds a bit of dirt or grit or something got underneath it- as that would explain why its started now and didnt happen before.

 

Well if it was sitting flat on a smooth surface it probably wouldnt move- but if a little bit of something got underneath it that would allow it move from vibrations much easier.
And as it has only started happening it makes sense the dirt or grit would have to have got under it recently.

they clean you know  

I suspect it was the monthly clean that put the dirt in there.

yes Sherlock

wow and wowzer and oh my giddy aunt! where IS THAT???? thats beautiful I love those birds, it looks vaguely Asian or Balinese or something exotic.

Actually, believe it or not,& I was surprised, its from........Russia ! Or rather its IN Russia.

crikey  

Pettytyrant101 wrote:

 It's the little things that make me laugh.