The Riace Bronzes (often called "Warrior A" and "Warrior B") are two full-size Greek bronze statues dating from . Discovered by chance in 1972 by a scuba diver off the coast of Calabria, Italy, they are among the few surviving original Greek bronzes in existence, as most others were melted down in antiquity. 1. Discovery & Recovery
Chemist Stefano Mariottini spotted a human forearm projecting from the seabed on August 16, 1972.
The statues are celebrated for their , including visible tendons in the hands and detailed cuticles on the nails.
Originally more lifelike, they featured copper lips and nipples, silver teeth, and eyes made of ivory or stone.
