How can we protect our most important places? With walls? With divine or sacred protection ?

With both? The answer to this question has not always been the same in either France or Thailand. Let’s take a trip back to the 14th century. Here, we are in Carcassonne, a famous city in the Occitanie region. The city is famous for its medieval fortress, a citadel protected by a double perimeter wall with fifty-two watchtowers.

On the painting, one of the city gates of Carcassonne is guarded by two giants from Thailand who also appeared in the 14th century. They are on the most part represented with a characteristic face, large round eyes and protruding fangs, as well as a green or purple complexion. They are called the Yakshas Ogers. The two guardians in this photograph have been protecting the Wat Phra Kaew or Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok since the 18th century.

USEFUL RESOURCES:

• Carcassonne Tourism Office (Information on the city of Carcassonne in the Occitanie region)
• Thailand Tourism Directory (Information on Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha)