National Museum - Bangkok, Weapon

                 Map of National Museum

The Weapon Room
The Weapon Room is dominated by a life-size model of
a war elephant. The King or Commanding Officer was
seated on the neck and gave orders to the signaller seated
in the howdah, who used peacock features to transmit the
orders. Behind sat the mahout or elephant trainer.

The two cannons in the centre are Spanish, dated 1651.
The unusual, large gun with a revolving muzzle was
designed by King Mongkut, Rama IV (1851-1868), to fire
more than one shot at a time. There are fine collections of
guns and swords. Many are ornately decorated and were
for ceremonial use only.

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