follow this link to see video taken by scuba diver of replica statue in Key Largo
This approximate nine foot tall bronze sculpture is at the bottom the Ocean at Key Largo Dry Rocks off John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This statue is a replica of the original "Il Christo Degli Abissi" or in English - "Christ of the Abyss". It symbolizes peace of mankind. The original sculpture is in the Mediterranean sea off San Fruttuoso between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera.
It was placed in the water on August 22 ,1954 at approximately 17 meters depth, and stands 2.5 meters (8.5 feet) tall. Professor Guido Galletti cast the original from the inspiration of the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, swimmer/diver Duilo Merchant. Galletti wanted a symbol to inspire all who explored and loved the sea in 1954.
The statue depicts Christ in a pose offering peace. His hands and head are raised toward the surface (or the sky, when positioned above water). Due to increasing amounts of corrosion and the growth of crustaceans, the statue was removed from the water and restored in 2003. A hand that had been detached by an anchor was also replaced. The statue was returned to the water with a new base on 17 July 2004.
A second bronze sculpture cast from the same mold exists off the coast of St George in the Caribbean. This was a gift of the navy of Genoa for assistance in rescuing the crew of Italian vessel Bianca C' destroyed by fire in the port of St. George. The sculpture was placed under water on October 22, 1961
This third bronze from the original mold was presented to the Underwater Society of America in New York in 1962. On August 25 1965 it was placed into the deep waters of Key Largo, Florida. The statue weighs around 400 pounds, the concrete base to which it is attached weights about 20,000 pounds. Various other casts of the statue exist both under water and above water in churches and museums.
The original clay statue minus the hands was located in a foundry in 1993. This is now on display with replacement hands at the National Museum of Underwater Activities in Ravenna, Italy.
There are numerous videos divers have taken of the many statues around the World. Some day I may put a short one together and post it.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free to leave a comment, and it will be posted immediately. However, if your comment is offensive in anyway, it will be removed.
I welcome differing opinions, I do believe in free speech, just not vulgar cuss laden comments written for the only purpose of offending people in general.
Differing opinions is not what I refer to, go ahead and disagree, but in a polite way so we can have a logical respectful discussion.
By offensive, I mean by being vulgar, as in swearing, using God's name in vain, or derogatorily offensive in a way you would not talk to your own Grandmother, Mother, or daughter, and then the comment will be removed.
I may not respond to your comment promptly, and there is no way with blogger for me to respond directly to your comment,. So come back and look for me to respond in a new comment to you by the name you post your comment with.