Ancient Egyptian statue mysteriously spins itself at Manchester museum

A 4,000-year-old Egyptian statue at Manchester Museum has left bosses puzzled after it seemed to turn itself around in its display case.

In a time-lapse video, the 10-inch tall statue of Neb-Sanu can be seen turning on its axis during the day, but remaining still at night.

Egyptologist Campbell Price at the museum told Manchester Evening News: "I noticed one day that it had turned around. I thought it was strange because it is in a case and I am the only one who has a key.

"I put it back but then the next day it had moved again. We set up a time-lapse video and, although the naked eye can't see it, you can clearly see it rotate on the film. The statuette is something that used to go in the tomb along with the mummy.

"Mourners would lay offerings at its feet.

"In Ancient Egypt they believed that if the mummy is destroyed then the statuette can act as an alternative vessel for the spirit. Maybe that is what is causing the movement."

Staff at the museum installed the camera to take a picture of the 1800BC stature every minute for a week.

Dr Price told The Sun: "The statuette has been on a glass shelf in about the same place in the gallery for decades - and has never moved before.

"It probably lay buried until it was found by an archaeologist or a local Egyptian before being sold and entering the art market."

According to the Daily Mail, other experts believe that vibrations caused by the footsteps of visitors at the museum could be making the statue turn, but Price says: "It has been on those surfaces since we have had it and it has never moved before. And why would it go around in a perfect circle?"

Watch the video of the ancient Egyptian statue turning itself below:

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