March 15, 2011

Statue of the Three Lies in Harvard University

When I was in Boston last January, I visited Harvard University, one of MUST-SEE tour course of Boston that city map introduces. It's interesting a University is belonging  int tour course. Anyway, the Harvard has lots of stuffs for sightseeing.


One of them is the Statue of John Harvard. The statue is famous for rubbing left shoe for luck. Harvard students used to rub the shoe before getting test or exams. Tourists, especially who want to be a Harvard Student, do that for entering the Harvard. However, among Harvard undergraduate students a longstanding tradition of urinating on the statue at night.


The statue has three non-facts, called The Statue of Three Lies.

First, the statue is really not John Harvard. A 19th century Harvard undergraduate student was used as a model for it. In fact, the statue is not likely John Harvard at all.

Second, John Harvard was not a founder of Harvard University. He was an early financial contributor.

Third, Harvard university was founded in 1636, NOT 1638.

Fraud! did I rub whose foot? But, I believe that I'll have a luck.