Prasat Muang Tam’s central sanctuary

Construction record was unfound. The dating of the complex relies on its relief decoration on lintels and pediments which matches the style of Baphuon. Thus this temple should date back to approximately mid-11th century AD.

It should be noted that the Khleang style lintels were also found here, however the dating of the temple should not be as old as the time in which the Khleang style reached its zenith (960s-1010s AD). Rather the craftsmen of Prasat Muang Tam should emulate the old style in the mix with a newer style of Baphuon.

The central sanctuary of Prasat Muang Tam consists of five towers (prangs), three at the front row and two at the back row which were arranged diagonally to the towers at the front row.

All five towers facing east were collectively built on a large laterite base. The front middle tower functions as the principal sanctuary, now collapsed. A foundation is all that remains of the tower which is plainly larger than the other towers. Four towers are all the same size with a laterite base whereas a sanctum (ruen that) and multi-tiered roof were made with bricks and mortar. The doors to the cella are on the east. The inner sanctums would usually house the statues which currently only plinths remain which makes identifying the cult statues impossible.

Prasat Muang Tam locates to the northeast of Phanom Rung. The way in which two monumental temples locate only a short distance from one another highly indicates a massive size and significance of community. This should plausibly due to a state of fertility of the land and on the main road between the Angkor and Phimai.

In terms of artistic matters, Prasat Muang Tam displays a very distinctive craftsmanship of two groups of artisans. The first group shows a lesser quality of craftsmanship on the central sanctuary’s lintels. A finer skill of the second group was found at the gallery and the outer enclosure. This suggestively points out that the adornment with reliefs was divided between the local craftsmen and non-local artisans whose skill were better than that of the formers.

โบราณคดี, กอง. รายงานการขุดแต่งโบราณสถานปราสาทเมืองต่ำ และการขุดตรวจเพื่อค้นหาแหล่งชุมชนโบราณบริเวณโดยรอบปราสาทเมืองต่ำ. กรุงเทพฯ : กองโบราณคดี, 2536.

โบราณคดีและพิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติที่ 9 นครราชสีมา, สำนักงาน. ปราสาทเมืองต่ำ. กรุงเทพฯ : สำนักงานโบราณคดีและพิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติที่ 9 นครราชสีมา, 2540.

สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า, ศิลปะสมัยลพบุรี. กรุงเทพฯ : มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2547.