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Subject: |
The building of the
Siam Society,
topped with a Thai national flag, and in the top right
corner the
emblem of the society (fig.),
which was designed in 1926. It consists of the head of an
elephant
on a horse collar-like shield
adorned with a
lotus
bud and flames
above, as well as with a garland or pendulum below. On the
frame of the shield, in Thai, is the society's slogan, i.e.
wichah yang hai
geut mitraphaap (วิชชายังให้เกิดมิตรภาพ), which translates
as ‘Knowledge
Gives Rise to Friendship’.
Whereas the elephant is the symbol of
Siam (fig.),
it also represents wisdom and friendship, while the lotus
and flames on the frame, reminiscent of those sometimes used
in the
iconography
of Indian deities (fig.),
may represent
Enlightenment,
and the garland
the beauty that results from it all. |
