Prang Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi

No documentation on construction available, the dating was thus assumed by the style, structure and decoration. All evidences indicate that the style of Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi was closer to the ancient khmer temple than the early Ayutthaya style prang which makes the date of the construction about a hundred year before the founding of the Ayutthaya Kingdom or 1257 AD. The temple was afterward restored during the reign of King Narai.

The site was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette no. 53, part 24, on 2 August 1936.

Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi was erected on the Phai thi base and oriented toward the east. Initially the main prang was flanked by two smaller prangs to the north and the south which were destroyed. Prang Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi was main

1. Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi is a prang-typed chedi which has its root in ancient khmer temple but had not yet developed into an Ayutthaya style prang. Henceforth, this Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi should be built around a century prior to the founding of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It is also believed that Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi was a prototype for the early Ayutthaya style prangs.

2. The main prang of Wat Chulamani in Phitsanulok province was modelled after Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi commissioned by King Borommatrailokkanat. This strongly reflects Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi’s significance in the people of Ayutthaya’s recollection.

1. The central prang of Wat Phutthaisawan, Ayutthaya province was possibly modeled after Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi after which the style and structure were transferred to other prangs of the early Ayutthaya period.

2. The central prang of Wat Chulamani, Phitsanulok province greatly displays a similarity in style and structure to those of Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi indicating a solid idea of appropriation.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ทะเบียนโบราณสถาน. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2532

สมศักดิ์ แตงพันธ์ และคณะ, ชุดที่ 4 การอนุรักษ์ประติมากรรม. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2551.

สันติ เล็กสุขุม. ศิลปะอยุธยา งานช่างหลวงแห่งแผ่นดิน. กรุงเทพฯ : เมืองโบราณ, 2542.