Illinois actually has three major contributions to the creation of this garden. One was the donation by Father Shamash to use it as a garden. Another was a donation made by Captain William Cook of the Chicago East Point railroad. And the third was from Dr. William Wentworth, who was a botanist. All three men's gifts and contributions have led to what we call the garden of the Gods.
Illinois' sacred garden is dedicated to numerous Greek and Roman goddesses. For example, one of the largest shrubs, Aphrodite, is found here. She is the goddess of love, beauty, and marriage. She is also the goddess of wine and cheese.
The Illinois Capital University has a great deal of information on the history of this garden. They have several exhibits on this interesting site. One of these exhibits is entitled The Garden of the Gods in Urbana. In this exhibit you will see a reconstruction of the temple of Apollo at the center of the garden. This temple was destroyed during the Babylonian Persian war.
Today the area around the temple still exists. It is landscaped and includes a bike path. Another fascinating aspect of this garden is that it is dedicated to education. In one corner of the grounds is a theater. In addition to this the village of Urbana itself serves as the education center for the surrounding community.
The statue of Aphrodite is one of the most distinctive features of the Sacred Garden of the Gods. She represents the goddess of love. Her arms are covered with flowers and she holds a wand and a spear. This particular statue symbolizes the struggle of Aphrodite's lovers to overcome sexual temptation and remain within her sacred garden.
Illinois owns a number of unique sites for archeological excavations. One of these is the Iron Age settlement known as Cave of the Stone. This is also located near the garden of the gods. Another significant archaeological site is the Western Cave Complex, which is located north of Urbana.
Urbana itself has a very rich ancient history. It is a center for the study of faith and culture. The Illinois Archeological Society has worked on several digs in the area. This includes the discovery of a prehistoric grave containing pottery and a beam replica of what was believed to be the chapel built by King Menes of Illinois during the fifth century. Urbana was also the home of theologists who found the remains of the Medieval Holy Land Temple located north of Urbana at the turn of the fourth century. These finds make the Illinois countryside a unique setting for any number of religious activities.
At the far southern end of the state, you will find the Garden of the Gods. This is the original Garden of the Gods founded by Phraortes and is still managed by members of the Orthodox and Catholic churches today. It is located about fifteen miles from Chicago.
If you are looking for a unique garden site in all of Illinois, look no further than the Garden of the Gods. You can find this lovely garden on any map of Illinois and is one of the best kept secrets of the state. This beautiful site has an ancient statue of Hercules holding his trident. He is surrounded by a number of other animals including the wild hounds. The garden also features a marble statue of Pandora wearing her rattle. This statue is located inside the temple where she represents the goddess of music and the wild child who try to protect the garden from the Dragon.
The garden was made to celebrate the originality of the state as it is located right outside of the Roman Catholic Church in the heart of the city. This garden has not only survived but thrived during the years that this site was used as a prison. Today, it is one of the most popular gardens in the world and is featured in many magazines and even on television. When you visit this site, you will be amazed at the beauty found here and the fact that it was designed to keep the prisoner outside of the walls of the prison.