Statuette of Artemis Rediscovered in Titanic's Debris Field

A newly rediscovered ornament, which once adorned the Titanic's First Class Lounge, has been photographed in exquisite detail and could potentially be recovered and exhibited in the future.

The Artemis (or Diana of Versailles) statuette is a small bronze or spelter replica of a classical sculpture housed in the Louvre, Paris. It originally stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace in Titanic’s First Class Lounge.

A similar statue was photographed aboard the Olympic in the 1920s, although its current whereabouts remain unknown.

The ornament was among the artifacts captured in photographs when Dr. Robert Ballard and his team explored the wreck site in 1986. Although its exact location wasn’t documented, a photograph of the statue appears in the book "Discovery of the Titanic."

In 2024, an expedition organized by RMS Titanic Inc. rediscovered the statuette resting on the seabed, where it fell when the Titanic broke apart. It is anticipated that the artifact will be recovered during a subsequent expedition.

The Diana of Versailles statue, on which the Titanic model was based, resides in the Musée du Louvre. Artemis, a revered figure in Greek mythology, was the counterpart to the Roman goddess Diana. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Known as the chief huntress for the gods, Artemis wielded a bow and arrows, often using them to punish mortals who incurred her wrath. She was also the goddess of childbirth, nature, and the harvest.

The Greek statue, known as Diana of Versailles, is celebrated for its portrayal of Artemis in an athletic pose, suggesting movement and vitality, with a deer at her feet and an arrow poised to be drawn. This depiction highlights her role as a huntress and protector of wildlife. The original, attributed to the sculptor Leochares and dating back to around 325 BC, is a testament to the intricate artistry of ancient Greek sculptors. Their skill in capturing the divine attributes and narratives associated with deities like Artemis is evident in such works, which often convey both the physical beauty and symbolic significance of the gods.

This article was initially published in 2003 and updated in 2024 to mark the rediscovery of the ornament.