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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Flying demon shoots arrows that become serpents (Thai Ramayana mural)

About this photograph

Creator
Margery H. Freeman
Date created
Unknown
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
License
This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use

See this photograph in context

  • The Ramayana: The Hindu epic The Ramayana is retold through the mural, painting, and dance of Southeast Asia. (Page 5.8)

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Flying demon shoots arrows that become serpents (Thai Ramayana mural at Emerald Buddha Temple)

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A flying demon, visible in the upper left corner, shoots arrows that become serpents as they fall. The arrows become wavy as they rain down upon Rama’s army. The demon moves actively in a cloud-filled sunset sky painted over a dramatic mountain and landscape scene.

When the arrows reach earth, they turn into serpents and wriggle along the ground attacking Rama’s monkey troops. The battle takes place in the countryside near a river with mountains and clouds visible in the background.

Ravana’s demon son created deadly arrows with serpent venom, but Hanuman, who approached the demons in disguise as a bear, weakened the arrows’ power so that they are not fatal, but rather change into serpents.