Ramayana Scene

Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok

This scene from the Ramayana (called the Ramakien in Thailand) illustrates part of the episode in which the Monkey army, aided by the Queen of the Southern Ocean (Guanyin) and her mermaid subjects, some of whom appear to be fratrinizing with the monkey soldiers, builds a bridge of stones between India and Sri Lanka. A complete series of 178 Ramakien paintings covers the entire cloister surrounding Wat Phra Kaeo. The murals were first painted in the late 18th century during the rule of King Rama I, the builder of Wat Phra Kaeo. They have been restored several times, most recently (as of 2004) in the 1980s.