During a recent expedition to the Titanic wreck site, RMS Titanic, Inc. made a significant discovery: a two-foot-tall bronze statuette of the Roman goddess Diana, known as the "Diana of Versailles" or "Diana the Huntress." 

This statue, which once adorned the First-Class Lounge of the Titanic, is a symbol of the ship’s opulence and grandeur.

The company’s recent journey marks the first expedition to the Titanic in 14 years, and it yielded over two million high-resolution photographs, along with the identification of numerous artifacts that may be recovered in future missions.

Titanic Expedition 2024

Titanic Expedition 2024, the ninth expedition to the wreck site, concluded on August 9, 2024, in Providence, Rhode Island. This mission follows earlier expeditions conducted in 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2004.

 During these expeditions, artifacts were recovered from the debris field surrounding the wreck. However, this year’s expedition stands out due to the rediscovery of the Diana of Versailles statue, a piece long thought lost to the depths of the Atlantic.

Diana of Versailles Statue Rediscovered

The rediscovery of the Diana of Versailles statue was one of the most momentous findings of the 2024 expedition. 

The statue, last seen and photographed by Robert Ballard in 1986, was found lying in the debris field of the Titanic wreck. Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985, had documented the statue, which was once believed to have been lost forever when the ship split in two as it sank.

"It was like finding a needle in a haystack, and to rediscover it this year was momentous," said Titanic researcher James Penca in an interview with the BBC. 

The statue once held a prominent place in the First-Class Lounge, serving as its centerpiece during the ship’s brief service. However, as the ship broke apart during its tragic descent, the statue was dislodged from its mantle and sank into the debris field.

Penca expressed his enthusiasm about the potential recovery of the statue. "This was a piece of art that was meant to be viewed and appreciated," he said. "And now that beautiful piece of art is on the ocean floor … in pitch black darkness, where she has been for 112 years." 

RMS Titanic, Inc. plans to return to the site next year to recover more relics, including the Diana of Versailles statue. Penca believes that bringing the statue back to the surface could inspire a renewed interest in history, diving, conservation, and sculpture. "I could never leave that on the ocean floor," he added.

The Broken Bow

In addition to the statue, the expedition yielded other significant findings. They were concerned about the rediscovery of a large section of the ship’s deck railing. This railing, which encircled the Titanic’s iconic bow, was immortalized in James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic. 

The railing was found broken off and resting on the seafloor during dives conducted by underwater robots.

"Titanic’s Bow is iconic," RMS Titanic, Inc., the Georgia-based company that owns the 112-year-old wreckage, stated on its website. 

"It is a haunting image rising from the sea floor as a testament to her strength and defiance." 

However, the discovery of a missing 15-foot section of the railing on the port side is a stark reminder of the ongoing deterioration of the wreck.

 "People ask all the time: ‘How long is Titanic going to be there?’" said Tomasina Ray, director of collections at RMS Titanic, Inc. "We just don’t know. But we’re watching it in real time."

The team also completed a comprehensive mapping of the wreck, and the data will be shared with the broader scientific community to further study the site’s condition and plan future preservation efforts.