Never-before-seen photographs have been released capturing a long-lost statue and the decay of the Titanic wreck.
The RMS Titanic, Inc. team, which is dedicated to preserving the ocean liner's legacy, spent 20 days at the wreck site over the summer taking more than two million images and videos, FOX Weather reported.
Researchers ended up rediscovering a statue of the ancient Roman goddess “Diana of Versailles,” and the findings were recently shared by RMS Titanic Inc.
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“RMS Titanic, Inc. is thrilled to share the first images and extraordinary discoveries from our 2024 expedition,” said Tomasina Ray, director of collections for RMS Titanic, Inc., in a press release. “The discovery of the Diana statue was an exciting moment, but we are saddened by the loss of the iconic bow railing and other evidence of deterioration that has only reinforced our commitment to preserving Titanic's legacy.”
RMS Titanic, Inc. shared the rediscovered statue of the ancient Roman goddess “Diana of Versailles.” (RMS Titanic, Inc.)
The statue was first found 70 years after the Titanic sank, but was lost until it was recently discovered.
“A highlight is the rediscovery of the bronze statue 'Diana of Versailles,' last seen in 1986, an artifact that most experts feared was lost forever. This important piece of art now has a clear and updated image thanks to the efforts of RMS Titanic, Inc. researcher James Penca and the expedition's data scientists,” the statement said.
“This success has been accompanied by a more sombre revelation: a significant portion of the railing surrounding the ship's forecastle deck has fallen from the port side bow, where it stood in 2022. This alteration irrevocably changes one of the most recognisable and symbolic visual elements of the Titanic.”
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After reviewing 3D photographs, the team determined that the railing was on the seabed and had fallen in one piece. (RMS Titanic Inc.)
The bronze statue stands 2 feet tall and was displayed as a centerpiece in the First Class Lounge, the RMS Titanic crew told FOX Weather.
The photos also showed the bow of the ship, where a 15-foot-long portion of a railing on the right side of the ship was missing.
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After reviewing 3D photographs, the team determined that the ship's railing was on the seabed and had broken off in one piece.
In 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. The ship was not discovered until 1985. (RMS Titanic Inc.)
“While the Titanic's collapse is inevitable, this evidence strengthens our mission to preserve and document what we can before it's too late,” the team said.
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In 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. The ship was not discovered until 1985 in the Atlantic Ocean.
