Never before seen photos have been released showing a long-lost statue and the collapse of the sunken Titanic.
A team from the RMS Titanic Company, which is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the luxury liner Titanic, spent 20 days at the wreck site over the summer, taking more than two million images and videos, FOX Weather reported.
Researchers have rediscovered a statue of the ancient Roman goddess “Diana of Versailles,” and the discovery was recently made public by the RMS Titanic Company.
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“RMS Titanic Company is pleased to share the first images and remarkable finds from the 2024 expedition,” Thomasina Ray, director of collections at RMS Titanic Company, said in a news release. “The discovery of the Princess Diana statue was an exciting moment, but we are disappointed that the iconic bow railing and other evidence of deterioration have been lost, which only strengthens our commitment to preserving Titanic's legacy.”
The RMS Titanic Company has unveiled a rediscovered statue of the ancient Roman goddess, Diana of Versailles. (RMS Titanic)
The statue was first discovered 70 years after the sinking of the Titanic, but was lost until its recent discovery.
“A highlight is the rediscovery of the bronze statue of 'Diana of Versailles,' last seen in 1986. Most experts feared the artifact had been lost forever. This important work of art has now been imaged in clear, up-to-date detail thanks to the efforts of RMS Titanic Company researcher James Penca and the expedition's data scientists,” the release said.
“This success was accompanied by an even more devastating fact: a significant portion of the railing surrounding the forecastle deck at the front of the ship has fallen off the port bow, where it remained standing until as recently as 2022. This modification has permanently altered one of the Titanic's most famous and iconic looks.”
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After examining 3D photos, the team determined that the railing was lying on the ocean floor and had fallen as a single plank. (RMS Titanic)
The RMS Titanic team told Fox Weather that the bronze sculpture was two feet tall and was on display as a centerpiece in the first class lounge.
The photos also show the bow of the ship, with a 15-foot section of the railing missing on the right side of the hull.
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After examining 3D photos, the team determined that the ship's railing was lying on the ocean floor and had fallen off.
In 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. The ship wasn't discovered until 1985. (RMS Titanic)
“While the Titanic's destruction is inevitable, this evidence reinforces our mission to preserve and record as much as we can before it is too late,” the team said.
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In 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. The ship wasn't discovered in the Atlantic Ocean until 1985.
