Po Nagar Towers, Nha Trang, Vietnam

 

Elephant and Castle, London, England

 

The first photo is of Po Nagar Towers in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Po Nagar was built by the Cham people, a Vietnamese ethnic group, in the 8th century. At the site, there were multiple towers built for worship by the Cham people, serving as temples dedicated to their goddess Yan Po Nagar.

The second photo is of the neighborhood Elephant and Castle in London. It pays homage to a group of medieval craftsman who made swords and knives and depicted an elephant carrying a castle on their crest. All over the neighborhood there are lots of elephants, both on buildings and in statue form.

A common theme that can be captured through this post is remembrance. Cham people still go to Po Nagar to worship, honoring their goddess and their history. In London, the sculptures pay homage to those specific craftsmen from medieval times. While these forms of remembrance vary greatly, the two sites are connected by that common theme.