Riace
The Discovery of the Riace Bronzes
On August 16th, 1972, a young Roman diver named Stefano Mariottini discovered two bronze statues in exceptional condition while diving in the waters off Riace. The two statues were named "Bronze A" and "Bronze B", and were considered masterpieces of Greek art.
Mariottini used a balloon inflated with air from scuba tanks to lift and recover the two masterpieces. On August 21st, statue B was recovered, while the next day it was statue A's turn (which fell back to the bottom before being safely brought to the beach).
The Conservation of the Riace Bronzes
The statues were then taken to the National Museum of Magna Graecia in the city of Reggio Calabria for conservation. After restoration work, the Bronzes were returned to the museum in December 2013, after being transferred for three years to Palazzo Campanella, headquarters of the Regional Council of Calabria, due to the renovation work of the main museum.
The Origins of the Riace Bronzes
There are still no elements that allow the works to be attributed with certainty to a specific sculptor. The hypotheses about the origin and authors of the statues are different. However, the two statues found in Riace are considered direct evidence of the great master sculptors of ancient Greek art.
The Symbol of Riace and Reggio Calabria
The Riace Bronzes have become one of the symbols of Riace and the city of Reggio Calabria. The two bronze statues attract tourists and art enthusiasts from all over the world.
In summary, the Riace Bronzes were recovered from the waters off Riace in 1972 by Roman diver Stefano Mariottini. They are two very significant bronze statues of Greek art and show the mastery of ancient sculptors. The statues are now housed at the National Museum of Magna Graecia in the city of Reggio Calabria where they attract numerous visitors from all over the world.
