S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e  C o o k  M o n u m e n t

The most southern end of the River Alder is Dammed by a Shell Bridge to create a serpentine "River Styx". Here on a small island, is to be found another curious little monument in the Elysian fields, The Cook Monument.

Captain James Cook's Monument

The Monument to Captain James Cook, the discoverer of Australia, New Zealand and the Islands of the South Pacific, consists of a large globe supported by a solid square plinth, bearing a cameo portrait of the sailor. It was erected in 1778. The newly restored globe is banded by brass strips to symbolize Latitude and Longitude. Across the central band is a long quotation from Horace's Archytas Ode, Book 1:

"Te maris & terrae numeroque carentis arenae mensorem". Translated it can read, "You, the man who did measure, the sea and earth and sand".

It is thought that In Greek mythology, Elysian Fields is a place the Gods take souls of heroes, chosen to be immortal. And, also a man who has not undergone a proper burial, cannot immediately enter into the afterlife. Unless a coin had been placed in the mouth of the deceased, he would not be able to pay the ferryman who carries souls across the River Styx, thus so being bound to walk the river banks in limbo for years, in a vain search to find his way into the Elysian Fields, and eternal peace and immortality for his soul.

Captain Cook was violently killed by Hawaiian indians on his third voyage in 1779. His dismembered body was burnt, and only his bones could be recovered, and given a sea burial by his crew. Therefore, he did not have a proper burial, and so was deemed to walk around the banks of the River Styx, as so thought in Greek mythology. The guidebooks explain that, In order to fully view the quotation, inscribed on the central band on the globe, one needs to walk from the Western bank, following the path around the river, behind the Shell Bridge, to the Eastern bank. This is the reason The Cook monument was set in its place alone, before the dam on its island, at the head of Stowe's River Styx.

Below: Viewed from the East bank, notice that the globe is in direct line with another monument in the Elysian Fields, and also dedicated to another great sailor, Captain Thomas Grenville.

 

 

 

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