Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

The most sacred statue located at Kampangpet National Museum is the early 16^th century bronze statue of Shiva measuring 210 centimeters high that was originally kept in the nearby Shiva shrine.

An inscription on the base says the image was made by order of the ruler of Kampangpet in 1510 (the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom) to protect the town’s inhabitants.

In the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910), a German named Rustmann wandered to Kampangpet and found this statue in good condition despite being exposed to the sun and the rain for some 300-400 years.

He cut off the head and hands of Shiva and smuggled the pieces intending to be sent to Germany but was caught in Bangkok shortly after.

This news spread into King Rama V’s ears and he deemed that ancient artifacts left abandoned here and there in the wilderness were risky to get smuggled and lost if they were not well maintained.

For a start, he ordered his officials to go and command the authority of Kampangpet to deliver those valuable antiques such as Nakhon Chum stone inscription and etc. including the broken Shiva to be kept safely in the capital of Bangkok.

When the construction of the Kampangpet National Museum was completed, the Shiva statue after being restored was moved back to display for the public until today.


(The statue of restored Shiva at Wung Na (the palace for the heirs to the throne in the early Ratanakosin Kingdom; related story on page 23/562) by the command of King Rama V)



(The statue of Shiva at the Kampangpet National Museum today)