Discovery on the Titanic: the ‘Diana of Versailles’ that was thought to be lost is found
Last seen in 1986, the most recent expedition to the 112-year-old wreck captured a clear and updated image of the statute that once watched over passengers.
The Titanic, one of the most famous ships in history, makes the headlines once again from time to time for one reason or another. This time, a bronze statue that was on the British liner, which has not been seen in decades, has been rediscovered by the company with salvage rights at the site of the shipwreck.
Yes, we’re talking about RMS Titanic Inc, a Georgia-based entity that owns the legal rights to the 112-year-old wreck, which completed its first voyage since 2010. Among other things, the images show that the site is constantly changing. They speak for themselves.
The Titan implosion, in memory
The trip here comes as the U.S. Coast Guard investigates the June 2023 implosion of the Titan owned by OceanGate Expeditions, which was the world’s only carbon-fiber submersible that had been capable of taking five people to a depth of over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) until the tragic accident.
Unfortunately, all of the people aboard the vessel’s final voyage to visit the Titanic died: Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a British businessman of Pakistani origin and his son; British businessman Hamish Harding; French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet; and Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company that operated the submarine.
“A mix of preservation and loss”
The discoveries from this summer’s voyage “showcase a bittersweet mix of preservation and loss,” RMS Titanic said in a statement. The highlight, however, was the rediscovery of the “Diana of Versailles” statue, last seen in 1986.
Today, it has a clear and updated image. “The discovery of the Diana statue was an exciting moment,” said Tomasina Ray, RMS Titanic’s collections manager. However, a significant portion of the railing surrounding the forecastle deck has fallen off. “We are saddened by the loss of the iconic Bow railing and other evidence of decay which has only strengthened our commitment to preserving Titanic’s legacy,” she added.
The future
The crew, it should be noted, spent 20 days at the site and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, on August 9, but with the goal more than achieved: taking more than two million photographs with the latest technology obtaining the highest resolution ever.
The 2024 Expedition also fully mapped the wreck and debris field utilizing LiDAR, sonar, and a hyper magnetometer which will help enhance the world’s understanding o of its historical significance.
“The team is now focused on carefully processing the data so findings can be shared with the Titanic and scientific communities and historically significant and at-risk artifacts can be identified for safe recovery in future expeditions,” the company concluded in the aforementioned statement.