Michelangelo's 'David' in danger of collapse
Slowest
Slower
Medium
Faster
Fastest
This useful resource has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for …
and a whole lot more.
READING:
Michelangelo's "David" could collapse because of its weak ankles. Scientists said that cracks in the heels of the 5.17-metre-tall statue could make it crumble under its 5.5-ton weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles heel. Scientists found many "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. Several things have caused this. These include the poor quality of marble, the statue leaning at an angle and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.
Michelangelo started David when he was 26. He spent three years making it. The statue is of the biblical hero David, who killed the giant Goliath. The rulers of Florence paid for it. They wanted a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was shown to the public in 1504. It stayed outside for 350 years and then moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the weather. Art lovers want it moved to an earthquake proof museum to protect it.
This page has all the levels, listening and reading for this lesson.
← Back to the Michelangelo lesson.
