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This stone statue shows a life sized Archimedes leaping naked (only his upper body visible) from his bath whilst experiencing his eureka moment* was erected by the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in one of the arches of the railway viaduct that runs behind the Sackville Building of UMIST (now part of Manchester University). The statue was created by the artist Thompson W Dagnall and unveiled in September of 1990**. It is one of a series of science inspired sculptures near to UMIST’s student union building.

* Most people have heard the story of Archimedes and his eureka moment, but not everyone knows the story behind it. See Link (Archimedes Eureka Moment) for details.

** The sunglasses are an addition, probably donated by students to protect him from the infamous Manchester sunlight. There is no evidence to suggest that Archimedes wore sunglasses when taking his bath.