A Mythological Creature

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

It's not a single creature, it is actually a carriage, ie, a horse drawn carriage, & as JYS says, it is kept at the kraton in Cirebon.

The symbolism is as JYS has told us, but the peksi supposedly represents Garuda.

It is pretty old, I think it was built in the 15th century.

I do not know, but I believe that the three icons of naga - elephant - Garuda were probably intended to represent the three layers of the world:- lower (naga), middle(elephant), upper (Garuda). When combined into a vehicle for the ruler this could be understood as the Sultan's dominance over the world, or maybe the cosmos.

These old boys did not do things just for fun, the carriage was an investment in symbolism that was meant to carry a message to the populace.

Then of course we have that trisula thingy.

Messages everywhere.

Thanks for the detailed valuable info.