A bronze statue that once graced the first-class lounge of the Titanic has been found by divers in remarkably good condition at the ship’s wreck site.
The discovery was made during a recent expedition by RMS Titanic Inc, which has shared new photos of the 112-year-old wreck.
The two-foot-tall bronze statue of the Roman goddess Diana, originally placed on the mantelpiece in the first-class lounge, was thrown to the ocean floor when the lounge was “torn open” during the Titanic’s sinking, according to RMS Titanic Inc.
This Diana of Versailles statuette, modeled after an original sculpture housed at the Louvre, was first photographed on the seabed in 1986. However, its precise location within the “miles” of debris was unknown until recently, when footage from an earlier dive helped divers locate it during the latest expedition.
“Much of Titanic’s fine art, made from organic materials, has decayed after decades underwater in the harsh environment of the North Atlantic,” RMS Titanic Inc posted on X.
“But some art was crafted to endure, like the Roman goddess Diana, who once sat atop the fireplace mantle in the First Class Lounge.
“After 112 years on the ocean floor and a brief sighting in 1986, she still stands upright among miles of debris. Like the eternal Roman deities, she is timeless – and has been rediscovered thanks to Expedition 2024.”
