Monkey kings and allies run through forest (Thai Ramayana mural)
About this photograph
- Creator
- Margery H. Freeman
- Date created
- Unknown
- Location
- Bangkok, Thailand
- License
- This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use
Related media
Learn more
- Search LEARN NC for art, Bangkok, Emerald Buddha Temple, kings, monkeys, murals, paintings, Ramayana, and Thailand.
In the classroom
- See our collection of articles on visual literacy for ideas on using photographs meaningfully in the classroom.
Red and green monkey kings and their multi-colored followers run through the forest during their mission to aid Rama. Like human kings, the royal monkeys wear gold Siamese clothes and jewelry.
The figures’ most primate-like characteristic is their matching wide-legged stance with their forearms resting on their bent knees as they appear to run together. All the monkey heads are seen in profile.
Royal parasols are held above the heads of two monkey kings wearing crowns. Their fellow monkeys of many colors prance beside them along a forest path towards the demon kingdom of Lanka where Rama’s wife Sita is held captive.
This image was photographed at the Emerald Buddha Temple in August 1984.
