Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Statue of Vasco Da Gama St Helena Bay, Western Cape

Date: 20?? Type: Statue Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 32°42'25.04" S 17°58'22.33" E Alt: 9m

On the base of the statue there are two brass plaques, a relief of Vasco Da Gama's ship the São Gabriel, a relief of the Cross of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal and half of an armillary sphere. Transcript of plaques: VASCO DA GAMA 1460 - 1524 THE FIRST PORTUGUESE EXPLORER AND NAVIGATOR TO ESTABLISH A DIRECT SEA ROUTE BETWEEN EUROPE VIA THE CAPE TO INDIA. DURING THIS VOYAGE HE CALLED AT ST HELENA BAY ON 7 NOVEMBER 1497. NOW DISEMBARKING IN THE SPACIOUS BAY TO SEE THE WONDERS OF THE SAVAGE SHORE AND THE ADVENTUROUS SEAMEN OVER THE COAST STRAY WHERE OTHER STRANGER'S FOOT NEVER TROD BEFORE. BUT I, WITH MY PILOTS, ON THE WHITE SAND THE HIGH SUN'S ALTITUDE WE MEASURED TO CHECK OUR POSITION ON THE LAND AND ON THE UNIVERSAL GLOBE BE TREASURED. THE LUSIADS, BOOK V, STANZA 26 LUIS DE CAMÕES