Michelangelo’s David at risk of toppling over due to weak ankles

Michelangelo’s sculpture of David is at risk of toppling over from vibrations from an earthquake or even nearby roadworks, say researchers.

A team of scientists from the National Research Council at Florence University (Igg-Cnr) made plaster replicas of the statue and subjected it to a variety of forces to determine its strength and stability, with their findings published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage.

The inclination of the statue as it leans forward has resulted in tiny fractures in the statue’s ankle, and over time the statue is at risk of toppling over forwards if these cracks are put under any additional force, such as the vibrations from roadworks.