A statue of Diana of Versailles, which had been thought to be lost, was discovered near the hull of the Titanic, which sank 112 years ago, during a recent expedition. This was announced by the only company that has the right to recover objects from the crash site of the ocean liner, RMS Titanic Inc.
The bronze statue, about 60 cm high, was the centrepiece of the Titanic’s first class lounge and was based on the original marble Diana the Huntress by the Athenian sculptor Leochares (2nd century BC), which is on display at the Louvre. The statue was last seen in photographs following the results of the first expedition to the sunken giant in 1986, after which the location of “Diana” was unknown – it was considered lost.
At the same time, researchers note that the Titanic is being destroyed and its condition is deteriorating under the influence of the harsh ocean environment. So, a large fragment of the railing on the left side of the ship’s bow fell off and now lies at the bottom of the ocean. This is a cult place known throughout the world from the film. James Cameron “Titanic”, this is where Jack taught Rose to “fly”.
The dramatic changes to the ship’s appearance reflect its rapid deterioration and contribute to the company’s determination to preserve Titanic’s legacy.
As reported EADailyIn May of this year, a US billionaire Larry Conner announced an expedition to the Titanic wreck site. And this is a year after the Titan disaster that occurred on June 18, 2023. Connor intended to use a submarine called the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer. The device is capable of diving to depths of up to 4,000 meters. In turn, OceanGate’s infamous Titan submarine was certified to a depth of only 1,300 meters.
