About this slideshow

The version of the Ramayana told in this slideshow is not a literal or complete retelling of any single classical or modern version of the epic. It is based primarily on the Ramakien, the Ramayana as rewritten by Rama I and Rama II of Thailand. The Ramakien is told in more than a mile of murals in Bangkok’s Emerald Buddha Temple, many of which are featured in this slideshow. However, the names used in this slideshow are the more familiar forms from the Indian epic, not their Thai counterparts.

For ease of viewing, the slideshow is divided into seven chapters. Our divisions do not follow the divisions of the classical Ramayana; rather, our chapters reflect what we saw as logical breaks in the story that divided the edition into similarly-sized chunks. In some cases, elements of the original narrative are heavily condensed or deleted, depending on the availability of photographs. We strove for a balance of clear storytelling, attractive images, and a variety of aesthetic perspectives on the Ramayana.

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