Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro The slow decay of the Titanic continues to surprise experts: a section of the bow has collapsed, while a bronze statue, thought lost forever, has finally been found
©RMS Titanic
The iconic bow of the Titanic, immortalized in the famous scene with Jack and Rose from James Cameron’s film, has suffered another collapse due to continuous deterioration. A section of the port-side railing, approximately 15 feet (4.5 meters) long, now rests on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, as confirmed by images from a recent expedition using underwater robots. The BBC reports that this discovery highlights the ongoing changes the wreck has been undergoing since it sank in April 1912, taking over 1,500 lives with it.
According to Tomasina Ray, Director of Collections at RMS Titanic Inc., the bow of the Titanic has become an indelible symbol in the collective memory:
“Every day, the wreck deteriorates more and more. This underscores the uncertainty of how much longer the ship can endure.”
The return of the “Diana of Versailles”
The railing, which was still intact during a 2022 expedition, was recently found collapsed, as revealed by new digital scans. Despite the deterioration, the expedition also brought an unexpected discovery: a bronze statue, believed lost for decades, was recovered. Images of the statue, published by RMS Titanic Inc., depict a “bittersweet combination of loss and preservation.” As the ship decays, the statue emerges as a rare sign of hope for the preservation of history.
The most exciting find of the expedition is undoubtedly the statue of the “Diana of Versailles“, a replica that once adorned the Titanic and had not been seen since 1986. This masterpiece, thought to be irretrievably lost, has resurfaced from the depths of the ocean, giving historians and Titanic enthusiasts a fragment of history to celebrate.
