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ArchitecturePrasat Sikhoraphum
There are 5 prasats located on the same base. The Principal prasat is the largest and the other 4 are surrounding the Principle prasat in each corner. Except the east side which is an entrance, the prasat is surrounded by a ditch.This prasat was built in the 17th century B.E. which was the time of mixed arts in Nakhon Wat style. The date can be judged by the patterns on the door frame and the lintel of the principle prasat. However, this prasat was built with bricks while other prasats built in the Nakhon Wat style found in Cambodia always use sandstone. The diagram of Prasat Sikhoraphum is different than other prasats in Thailand because there are 5 prasats located on the same base with the principle prasat in the middle surrounded by other 4 prasats in each corner. Generally, there are only 3 prasats located next to one another on the same base found in Thailand.Each of the prasats are not connected; they all are stand- alone prasats. The walls are plain and the main material are bricks. The engraved areas such as lintels, door frames, and door frame’s pillars were done using sandstone. The mix of these two materials had appeared before since Prasat Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai that is located nearby and it is a local style of Khmer prasat in Thailand because prasats built in the Nakhon Wat style found in Cambodia always use sandstone to engrave. Since there is an image of Shiva Nataraja appeared on the lintel of the principle prasat, it is highly possible that this prasat was built in Shaivism. These 5 prasats might be the places where the Shiva lingam, the symbol of Shiva, used to be located. Later on, this prasat was transformed into a religious place in Theravada Buddhism by people who immigrated from Laos. Important evidences include door frames inscriptions, and the restoration of the top of the prasat that is located in the southwestern area of the prasat, to make it resembling to the relics in Lan Chang Arts in Buddhism. It has been reconstructed to mimic the castle’ spire in Khmer Arts, but its style is clearly different from its prototype. The jackfruit petals have been rearranged as well.
ArchitecturePrasat Ban Phlong
It is a small single prasat built from sandstone located on a large cross-shaped Phaitee laterite base. The fact that the laterite base has two wings which are much larger than the prasat itself can assume that that there might be a plan to build a surrounding prasats. However, those prasats are not in existence nowadays. It is unknown whether the prasats had never been completed or they were built with wood, so they had all been lost.This is an example of a small prasat with quite complete carvings. The main entrance is in the east while the other three are false doors. The prasat has beautiful engravings in Baphuon Arts both on the lintel and the gable. Therefore, the age of the prasat can be assumed to be around the late 16th century B.E to the early 17th century B.E. The peak of the prasat might be built with bricks but it was lost over time. The lintel of this prasat usually consists of a Kala face sticking out a triangular tongue to the front and spitting out a garland and this is a typical Baphuon style. Sometimes there is a bunch of flowers to separate the crescent lintel and sometimes there are none. This proves that the crescent and non-crescent lintels are popular in contemporary times.The gable is in Baphuon style. It is in a shape of a flower stalk facing downward. There is a Naga with a visor. Inside of the gable composed of flora patterns with a Kala face underneath. With the appearing visor, it may be possible that this prasat is in the late Baphuon period and its age may be slightly later than Prasat Khao Phra Viharn and Prasat Mueang Tum. Both the gable and the lintel of this prasat show images of Krishna in various episodes such as Krishna lifting the Kovanthana mountain and Krishna subdued Naga Kaliya. In addition, the images of Indra on the Erawan elephant also appeared in several areas.
ArchitecturePrasat Ta Muen Thom
Prasat Tamuenthom are 3 large prasats built with sandstone and laterite. The group of prasats consists of a large principle prasat with recessed corners located in a square diagram. In a room at the center enshrines a Shiva lingam which is a symbol of Shiva, the supreme deity of Shaivism in Brahminism. This Shiva lingam is adorned from a natural sandstone. Later a prasat was built to cover it. It is assumed that this is a lingam that naturally appeared, called "Swayambhu lingam", which is the most important of Shaivism. There are 4 doors and the southern door is connected to the porch in the front or the Mondop. It is divided into 3 booths and the roof is made of sandstone. The base engraved a pattern of a standing idol. A sandstone lintel engraved a deity sitting in a knee-high position above the Kala face who is spitting out a bunch of garland was also found.There are 2 smaller prasats built of sandstone located behind the left and right sides of the principle prasat. The diagram is a square with receded corners. The entrance and exit is on the south and the other 3 sides were made of false doors.There are 2 laterite Bannalais. One is located in the south side of the principle prasat in a rectangular diagram. The other one is located in the south-west side in a square diagram.The principle prasat, the other 2 prasats and the 2 Banalais are surrounded by a crooked balcony. The gopura was built of sandstone in a square diagram. There is a 1.40 meter wide corridor with a gate on all four sides. The northern, eastern and western arches are similar while the arch on the southern side is the largest and it is the main arch, divided into 3 booths. The central booth is in a cross-shape diagram. There is a window with a stone balustrade attached. There was a discovery of a stone inscription inscribed with ancient Khmer and Sanskrit letters which were used in the late 16th century B.E. The detail in the inscription praises Shiva and also refers to the names of the slaves and the guardians of this religious place. A sandstone pier was also found in the south about 10 meters away from the balcony, and the pond was lined with laterite down to the bottom. It is located in northwestern side of the crooked balcony.
ArchitecturePrasat Ta Muan Tot
Prasat Ta Muan Tot is a chapel “Arogayasala”. It was built to treat diseases during the reign of King Jayavarman VII during the 18th century B.E. The architectural elements of the Arogayasala are the same everywhere. There will be one principle prasat made of laterite and sandstone. It is a square diagram with recessed corners. The top part was carved with sandstone in the lotus petals pattern. There is only one entrance and exit, the other 3 sides are false doors. The entrance was made as a long room with a porch in the front. The roof was made of sandstone and laterite. There is a Banalai in a rectangular diagram built from sandstone and laterite on the east of the principle prasat. There is one entrance and exit. The eastern area is surrounded by an inner wall and under a laterite arch door that is divided into 3 booths. A stone inscription, built around the 18th century B.E., inscribed in Khmer letters, Sanskrit language was found around the booths and it is currently at Wachirayan Book Hall, Bangkok. The inscription mentioned Phra Phaisachayaguru, the Bodhisattva who granted people a healty life. It also stated that King Jayavarman VII donated materials and equipment and arranged staff to stay in the hospital as well. The north-eastern side of the prasat appears a pond.
ArchitecturePrasat Ta Muen
The diagram of Prasat Ta Muen is a characteristic of an archaeological site called "Dharamshala or a traveler's lodge" which King Jayavarman VII, around the 18th century, had ordered to build along the important routes throughout the kingdom. The place is a single prasat constructed with laterite and sandstone. The diagram is a square with recessed corners. The front of the prasat is a long room built of laterite. There is a door connected to the prasat on the west. This long room has one wall cut into a row of windows. Other walls were made of false windows. There is one entrance and exit on the east with a sandstone lintel carved into a Buddha image sitting cross-legged in a meditating position.
ArchitecturePrasat Phum Pone
Prasat Phum Pone includes four building in various sizes standing in a north-south axis. They are, excluding the main tower, remains of a building’s base whereas the main tower is in an excellent condition.The tower is a brick structure and built in the square plan which facing east. It opens to the east leading to the cella. The other three sides feature blind doors. At the four corners are decorated with pilasters. Multi-tiered roof forms the tower’s superstructure. The interior of the tower was damaged, in place of the statue and its pedestal, there is a large hole. Other remains are postholes at four corners and a sandstone conduit at the northern wall.
