Arthur Bernard Cook (22 October 1868 – 26 April 1952) was a British

archeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeol ...

and

classical scholar Classics, also classical studies or Ancient Greek and Roman studies, is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, ''classics'' traditionally refers to the study of Ancient Greek literature, Ancient Greek and Roman literature and ...

, best known for his three-part work, ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion''.

Early life and education

Arthur Bernard Cook was born in

Hampstead, London Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

on 22 October 1868. He was the son of William Henry Cook MD (1825-1882) and Harriet Bickersteth (1830-1918) His mother's family were leading ecclesiastical scholars of the time, including Edward Bickersteth (Dean of Lichfield) (1814-1892), Edward Bickersteth (bishop of Exeter) (1825-1906) and Edward Bickersteth (bishop of South Tokyo). (1850-1897) Cook was educated at St. Paul's School, where he won several academic prizes. He received an M.A. from the

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

. The Chancellor's Gold Medal is a distinguished annual award at Cambridge University for poetry, paralleling Oxford University's

Newdigate prize Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize, more commonly the Newdigate Prize, is awarded by the University of Oxford for the Best Composition in English verse by an undergraduate student. It was founded in 1806 as a memorial to Sir Roger Newdigate (1719–1 ...

. Cook's poem ''Windsor Castle'' won the

Chancellor's Gold Medal The Chancellor's Gold Medal is annual award for poetry open to undergraduates at the University of Cambridge, paralleling Oxford University's Newdigate Prize. It was first presented by Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh ...

for poetry at Cambridge in 1889. In 1893, he was awarded a fellowship at

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

Career

From 1892-1907, Cook was professor of Greek at

Bedford College, London Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first higher education college for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, it became a constituent of the University of London. Having played a leading role in the advancement of women in highe ...

. In 1900, he became Fellow of

Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the 16 "old colleges" of the university, and was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. Its buildings span the R ...

. From 1907 to 1931 he was Reader of Classical Archaeology at

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. He became the

Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology Laurence is in modern use as an English masculine and a French feminine given name. The modern English masculine name is a variant of Lawrence and originates from a French form of the Latin ''Laurentius'', a name meaning "man from Laurentum" ...

at Cambridge in 1931, where he had held the position as Reader, until 1934. From 1935 to 1952, Cook was Vice-President of Queens' College. Cook was elected as a fellow of the British Academy for the humanities and social sciences in 1941. He was elected an International Member of the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

in 1944. Professor Cook died in Cambridge on 26 April 1952.

Legacy

Cook is often considered one of the

Cambridge Ritualists The Cambridge Ritualists were a recognised group of classical scholars, mostly in Cambridge, England, including Jane Ellen Harrison, F.M. Cornford, Gilbert Murray (actually from the University of Oxford), A. B. Cook, George Thomson, and others. T ...

, and although he did not produce theoretical works, he has been called "perhaps the most typical disciple" of J. G. Frazer.Lowell Edmonds, ''Approaches to Greek Myth'' (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990), p. 72.

Works

*The Metaphysical Basis of Plato's Ethics (1895) *Zeus. A Study In Ancient Religion. (1914-1940) ** Volume 1: Zeus, God of the Bright Sky, Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, (reprint) ** Volume 2: Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (Thunder and Lightning), Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, ** Volume 3: Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (earthquakes, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorites)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Arthur Bernard British classical scholars 1868 births 1952 deaths Laurence Professors of Classical Archaeology British archaeologists Academics of Bedford College, London Classical scholars of the University of London Fellows of Queens' College, Cambridge International members of the American Philosophical Society People from Hampstead