Statues

One of Ayutthaya’s most iconic locations is a mysterious, hauntingly surreal miracle.

These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

This demonic monument commemorates a carving destroyed in World War II.

Rumored to be a giant robot in disguise, this colossal chef has been the beloved symbol of Tokyo’s kitchenware district for decades.

This statue of the famed saint is missing his right hand, a rare depiction of his posthumous amputation.

A series of life-sized statues of each governor of the state of South Dakota.

These massive animal sculptures were constructed as part of a reality TV show challenge.

A large boar commemorates the city's founding and the origin of its name.

A bronze sculpture of last Sikh maharaja of the Punjab, outside the English estate where he once lived.

This historic Erasmus statue was first mistaken for a legendary Chinese inventor, then as a child-eating hag.

A smug-looking cat representing an humorous Russian expletive.

Hundreds of statues of Buddha’s disciples meditating, napping, sneezing, and picking their noses.

A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.

This memorial to a murdered empress took 20 years to design, then spent 30 years hidden away in storage.

This walk to the Pacific Ocean is surrounded by modern statues of Mochica Gods.

This enormous ode to sport fishing overlooks the region.

A hidden Buddhist gem accessible only by boat.

Five mythical trolls have taken up residence in woods and hidden on paths at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.