Muang Tum
The Prasat Mueang Tam ( Thai: ปราสาท เมือง ต่ำ, also briefly: Muang Tam, such as: " Palace of the lower town " ) is a temple of the Khmer district in what is now Thailand, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Buriram located.
Geography
The temple area is situated in the district ( Amphoe ) Prakhon Chai Buriram Province, about 6 kilometers southeast of Khao Phanom Rung Historical Park.
The Temple District
The temple area is surrounded by a square wall that is broken in the four cardinal directions of Tordurchgängen ( Gopuram ). The East Gate is designed as the main entrance. In the temple Inside there are four symmetrical L-shaped pool of water in the corners, which lead down steps. These basins are surrounded by a low sandstone wall, which are designed as the body of five -headed nagas. By artfully embodied gates at the ends of the basin of the pilgrims can enter the steps to the water.
In the middle of the outer vestibule is the central sanctuary, which in turn is surrounded by an inwardly open gallery. Through four smaller gopuram the inner sanctum can be entered. The eastern gopuram is inside of two " Bannalai " (such as: libraries) flanked. The central sanctuary is a symmetric quincunx arrangement of Brick Prang, which is meant to symbolize Mount Meru with its five mountain peaks.
Outside the temple
Directly north of the temple is a large rectangular water reservoir ( baray ), with dimensions of 1150 x 400 m. It's like the temple in west-east direction: aligned ( more precisely to east-southeast from south-southwest ). Another, smaller reservoir is located opposite the north-west corner of the large Baray.
Excavations prove that the so -called Dharmasala route ( in Thai: เส้นทาง อริย ธรรม - sen thang ariyatham ) ran past here. The Dharmasala route is an old, applied by the Khmer in the 12th and 13th century street, could travel about the pilgrims and traders of Angkor Wat you directly to Phimai. However, it was not straight, but joined 17 of the most important temples of the Khmer in Cambodia today and in today's Thailand. The road no longer exists, its existence can, however, by so-called Rest Houses ( Dharmasala ) that were built along the road, and set by bridge ruins.
History
Due to the architectural design and the design of lintels Prasat Muang Tam the emergence of the 11th century may be dated. It can be found here artistic styles of the so -called " Khleang period", which lasted about 968-1049, a time in which the Khmer kings Jayavarman V, Udayadityavarman I., Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I. reigned, and the following " Baphuon period", which is about from 1050-1080 during the reign of Udayadityavarman II and III Harshavarman. prevailed.
Attractions
Besides the impressive overall system are the many lintels of great artistic quality. However, the originals of the most valuable works of art are now in the National Museum Phimai, in their original locations similar replicates were confusingly used. Pictured are scenes from Hindu mythology, as well as depictions of flowers and foliage. Typical are multiple images of the " Kala ", also Kirtimukha ( Thai: กิ ร์ ติ มุ ขะ, Sanskrit: " Face of Glory " ), called a lion köpfigenen demons from Hindu mythology who devoured in his wild hunger itself, until only remained his head left. From the mouth of the dental Rate Kala lush vegetation, often further reduced entwines above doors and on pillars growing.