S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e  S a x o n  D e i t i e s

Following the trail on from the Cobham Monument, the visitor approaches the woody glade known as Wick or Week Quarter.

The Saxon Deities are a set of 7 statues, arranged in a semicircle in the cleared area known as Wick Quarter. It borders the edge of Hawkwell Field and the Grecian Valley.

The statues originally were of the 7 "Saxon" gods, which gave their names to the days of the week: Sunna, Monna, Tiw, Woden, Thuner, Friga, and Seatern. The originals were all carved by Rysbrack around 1727, and were first set to stand at Nelson's walk, west of Stowe House, before being removed to the Gothic Temple. Around 1771 they were again moved to this location in the woods. However the originals were all sold in 1921 and are now separated, in various collections elsewhere. The statues we see here today are copies being made from casts of the originals. At time of writing, Spring 2007, the 7th statue was missing, although a plinth has been provided for it..

 

 

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