Surrounding the Temple of the Emerald Buddha something like a cloister is the Ramakien gallery. The walls of the gallery are painted with murals depicting scenes from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian epic the Ramayana, which deals, basically, with the triumph of good over evil.There are 178 panels in all. They were originally painted when the temple was first constructed in 1783, but exposure to the elements requires constant maintenance. You'll note that the architectural elements in the panels, such as palaces and temples, are adapted from the real palaces and temples of the capital.