Two ancient Greek bronze statues were discovered off the coast of Riace in 1972.
Known as the Riace Bronzes or Riace Warriors, the pair was found near Riace Marina in Calabria, southern Italy, on 16 August 1972. The statues were recovered from roughly 8 metres of water after being spotted by Stefano Mariottini, an amateur diver. They are now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria.
The two life-size-plus figures, conventionally called Statue A and Statue B, portray nude, bearded warriors. They were cast around 460–450 BCE using the lost-wax technique and probably originated in the Greek world, though their sculptors, identities, and original context remain uncertain. Some scholars have connected them with mythological heroes or a larger monument, but no interpretation is universally accepted.
Their realism comes partly from the combination of materials: the bronzes include inlaid eyes and details made with copper and silver. Weapons, shields, and helmets once completed the figures but are now missing. The question refers to the famous pair, not to later rumors about additional objects allegedly present at the seabed.