Siho is a mythological animal originating from the Himaphan forest. It is believed that the forests are located below the Buddhist heavens and are invisible to the eyes of mortals.
Siho is also referred to as a Lasasee or Ratchasee, but always with a lion’s body and the head of an elephant. In the Lao epic, Sinxay, he is a brother of Sinxay and helps him in his quest to bring back his aunt, Nang Soumountha, sister of his father, the king Phanya Kousarat, who was abducted by an ogre, Nyak Koumphan.
In Khon Kaen, Thailand, the main characters of the Sinxay epic, Sinxay, Siho and their brother, Xangthong, have been adopted as the new cultural icons for the city and Siho can now be seen guarding the city’s lak muang, guarding the main road into the city and on top of lampposts down the main boulevard.
Please check under the Additional Images tab to see a photo of the pin with a dime to help determine size and a photo of Bai with Sihos who are guarding the lak meuang in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
