Mermaids of Earth

  • Home
  • About
    • Ocean Conservation
  • Mermaid Art
    • Artists
    • Mermaid Poems
    • Pictures
      • Public Paintings and Murals
    • Statues
      • Public Mermaid Statues & Sculptures
      • Private Mermaid Statues & Sculptures
      • Mermaid statues and mermaid sculptures for sale
  • Shop
    • Mermaid Jewelry
    • Mermaid Tails
    • Mermaid Books
  • Contact
  • Blog

The Golden Mermaid statue in Songkhla, Thailand

The mermaid statue at the Laem Samila beach in Songkhla, Thailand was created in 1966 by Jitr Buabus, then director of the Art & Craft College in Bangkok.  map

Songkhla Mermaid in Thailand
Songkhla Mermaid in Thailand. Photo © by 123RF.

The idea of the mermaid comes from an epic 30,000-line saga about Prince Phra Aphai Mani by "Soonthorn Phu".  Soonthorn Phu's real name was Phra Sunthorn Vohara, and he is one of the most loved Thai authors and poets.   He was the official poet for Kin Rama II in the early 19th century.

The statue is based on this saga, which in small part tells of a mermaid, who combed her hair with a golden comb, on the beach one starry night.  She was frightened away by a young fisherman.  Smitten by her beauty and wanting to return her comb to her, he waited every day for her return, but she never came back.

The Phra Aphai Mani saga in turn is based to some degree on an ancient Thai legend of the mermaid and the fisherman.

The Songkhla Mermaid is officially named the Golden Mermaid, or Nang Nguek Thong.

Songkhla Golden Mermaid
Songkhla Mermaid in Thailand.  Photo © by 123RF.

References:
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phra_Aphai_Mani
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunthorn_Phu
● The Mermaids of Earth coffee-table book: See page 168 in the book about this sculpture.

Mermaids of Earth coffee-table book

Contribute additional pictures for this page here.
FacebookTweetPinEmail

 

 

This site is about mermaids on planet Earth

Why? Because mermaids are all around us. Lots of them. No, not actual live mermaids of course…

Read More

NEWSLETTER

Copyright © 2023 · MERMAIDS OF EARTH · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Loading Comments...
 

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!