Posted on 01/19/2021 11:42:04 AM PST by OneVike
The original clay model used as the mold for the famous, "Il Cristo degli Abissi" statue, can be seen at the Ravenna "National Museum of the Underwater Activities" in Italy. The original statue is in the Mediterranean sea off San Fruttuoso, between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. The statue was placed in the water on 22 August 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.
All the pictures here are of the original statue in Italy. The statue in the video is a replica that sits on the ocean of Key Largo Dry Rocks off John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The sculpture symbolizes peace of mankind from its unusual setting. The statue and the replicas like it around the world are known as the "Il Christo Degli Abissi" or in English - "Christ of the deep", or "Christ of the Abyss".
The original sculpture, (above) the "Il Cristo degli Abissi", is in the Mediterranean sea off San Fruttuoso between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. It was placed in the water on 22 August 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. In 1961.
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
A 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 approximately 25 feet off the waters of Key Largo, Florida. It is located around Dry Rocks, around six miles North east of Key Largo in the John Pennekamp Coral Reeile 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.
Like 20 years ago, there always a big Morell eel that hung out by the statue. Very friendly to the dive boat tourists.
So you have scuba dived, or snorkeled to see it?
Yes
I scattered my dear friend’s ashes there, as per her request.
OK, I’m officially jealous. I often times wondered why, when I was younger and bouncing around Europe and America I never went scuba diving.
Wow, did you also dive? Or just scattered them from the boat?
We dove. It’s only about 30 ft down. (Key Largo)
My friend was an amazing Missionary, smuggled bibles into moslem countries hidden in the folds of a burka, and also Iron Curtain countries prior to that.
She was my best friend, and died in my arms in an open helicopter over an erupting volcano in Hawaii.
I’m not making this up.
Do tell her story. Sounds like it needs to be shared.
Actually, as it was in 2013 that Lil died, I told the entire story on the Jerusalem Thread as it happened. I’ll see if I can find it.
I wonder if there’s anything like that in the Great Lakes. So many shipwrecks there. Reminds you of the line in the burial service about one day the sea shall give up its dead.
Well, I know the Edmond Fitzgerald has become a sort of an underwater memorial to Shipwrecks, but to dive that far down in that cold and treacherous water is something only the very best should or could even attempt to do.
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