Garden of the Greek Gods is located on Prince Edward Island Cres (south of the Better Living Centre) at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
The Mythical Sculptures
Renowned Canadian artist Elford Bradley “E.B.” Cox created the collection of 20 mythical limestone sculptures as a tourist attraction for the Georgian Peaks ski resort in Thornbury, Ontario (about 14 km west of Collingwood). While working at his studio, using a sledgehammer, compressed air and hand chisels, Mr Cox started his first sculpture in late 1962. Nine months later, eleven pieces, including Pan, Orpheus, Cerberus, Centaur, Minotaur, Harpies and Three Graces, were completed and transferred to the resort, where they were scattered along trails from the top of the lift chairs to the lookout area.
That summer of 1963, Mr Cox worked on-site at the resort on the 12th sculpture, Medusa. The remainder of the stones were finished by 1964, each representing a god, hero or monster from Greek mythology. Hercules, which stands 3.4 m or 11 ft tall and weighs over 5 tons, was positioned at the bottom of the ski hill at what was known as “The Enchanted Mountain.” At that time, the group of sculptures was collectively known as the “Garden of the Gods.”
Over the next decade, the chair lift’s position changed, meaning the artwork was only being seen during the winter season. Mr Cox was concerned that the sculptures were not being enjoyed year-round as intended, so in 1974, he purchased his collection back and brought it to his North York home.
The Move to Exhibition Place
In 1976, the sculptures were featured in the “Glorious Greece” display during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in the Coliseum. It took five large trucks and forklifts to transport the giant stones from Mr Cox’s residence to Exhibition Place. For the next two years, they were stored at Exhibition Place.
In 1978, well-known Toronto restauranteur Arthur Carman (Athanasios Karamanos), who owned Carman’s Club at 26 Alexander St, purchased the collection in honour of his Greek heritage from Mr Cox for $125,000. Mr Carman then donated the group of sculptures to the people of Toronto. With matching funds from Wintario and a permanent home provided by Exhibition Place, the landscaped garden called “Garden of the Greek Gods” opened a year later on the south side of the Horticulture Building.
For several years, the pieces were around the grounds of the Horticulture Building. When the building became home to Musik nightclub, today’s Toronto Event Centre, the sculptures were no longer visible to the public.
Garden of the Greek Gods Today
In 2022, the stone figures were relocated and unveiled at their new permanent home on the south side of Exhibition Place. They are free to see and, once again, publicly accessible. There are a total of 20 sculptures and one carved marker stone.
In conjunction with the relocation, Exhibition Place has partnered with CAMH to launch a digital experience called Digital Amphitheatre. The project aims to create a virtual community through sharing stories.
About E.B. Cox
Elford Bradley Cox was born in Botha, Alberta, in 1914. He moved to Ontario and studied languages at the University of Toronto, later becoming a French and German teacher at Upper Canada College. In the 1950s, Mr Cox became a full-time artist. Throughout his career, he created many sculptures, including monumental works found at schools, government buildings, hotels, parks, banks and more throughout Ontario. Mr Cox passed away in 2003 at the age of 89.
Garden of the Greek Gods Photos
“God of love, also known as Venus. Born of the sea, she reached shore riding a scallop shell.”
“Many stories come down from antiquity or children having Dolphins for playmates, and of lost sailors being helped to shore by Dolphins.”
“One of a jolly race of creatures, half man, half horse who lived in the forest of ancient Greece and were very hard to catch.”
“This savage three–headed dog guarded the gates of hades, to keep good people out and bad people in.”
“One of a race of Giant one-eyed men who herded sheep for a living. They were finally done in by Hercules after a fierce struggle.”
“These bird-women were the embodiment of conscience and tore at the Hearts of evil-doers.”
“The mighty hero of ancient Greece. The Gods tested him with 12 labours. He is seen here after slaying the Nemean Lion.”
“A monstrous dragon with nine heads originally-however if one head was cut off, two heads grew in its place. This one has 14 heads-so figure how many heads were cut off.”
“Half bull, half man, he guarded the maze for the King of Crete until vanquished by the Greek Prince Theseus.”
“He charmed the creatures of the forest with his wonderful playing of the Lyre and his heavenly singing.”
“One of three gorgons, with hair of snakes, whose glance changed all who looked at her into stone.”
“A sea nymph having the body of a woman and tail of a fish. Here she holds a merbaby and a young Dolphin.” ”
“A handsome young man who pined away for love of his own reflection, finally turning into the flower of the same name.”
“The Elusive God of the forest, half man, half goat, full of fun and games. He invented the reed pipes and filled the woods with their sounds.”
“After living in the desert for 500 years this bird was consumed by fire. It rose anew from its own ashes and is the symbol of eternal life.”
“These Creatures appeared on the surface of the Mediterranean as whitecaps. In large groups they could stir up quite a storm if the wind was right.”
“A strange creature with claws of a bird and the body and tail of a lion. This woman would devour passing travellers if they could not answer her riddle correctly.”
“These beauties were judged by Paris, and the most beautiful of them received the golden apple.”
“He ruled the seas and by blowing on his conch shell could either stir up the waves or calm a storm.”
“Supposed to be a fearsome creature, half man, half snake. This last surviving speciman doesn’t seem so very fierce.”
Garden of the Greek Gods
“These twenty stone sculptures, collectively known as the Garden of the Greek Gods, were created in the 1960s by the late Toronto artist Elford Bradley Cox, RCA (1914-2003). The sculptures represent gods, heroes, and monsters of Greek mythology.
In 1979, the collection was acquired by Toronto restaurateur Athanasios Karamanos, better known as Arthur Carman. To celebrate his Greek heritage, Carman donated the collection to the City of Toronto for permanent display at Exhibition Place.
Cox carved the sculptures from massive blocks of limestone, using an air hammer and chisels. They are some of the largest sculptures in Canada. Hercules is the tallest, at over three metres. Four additional Cox sculptures are located on these grounds, near the Queen Elizabeth Building.
E.B. Cox is widely acknowledged as Canada‘s foremost sculptor in stone. His many works of public art can be found throughout the city and province, with countless smaller sculptures held by private collectors across the country and around the world.”
Exhibition Place 2022
Located on the south of the Better Living Centre in the Rose Garden
SOURCE
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jul 6, 1963, pg 13
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Dec 28, 1974, pg F3
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Feb 1, 1979, pg C15
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Feb 28, 1979, pg A2
- The Parkdale Villager: Jun 13, 2016, pg 1
- History of the Garden of the Greek Gods by Kathy Sutton (daughter of EB Cox), updated Apr 9, 2015
- Digital Amphitheatre: EB Cox
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: Exhibition Place Records & Archives & Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives
