The Astronomical Orientation of the Thai Phimai Temple
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21715561 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cherdsak Saelee (0000-0001-9924-829X), Orapin Riyaprao (0000-0003-2084-3198), Korakamon Sriboonrueang, Siramas Komonjinda (0000-0001-7987-017X), Prissana Thamboon |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 488-502 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1440-2807 |
| Publisher | China Science Publishing & Media Ltd. (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.3724/sp.j.1440-2807.2024.03.04 |
| OpenAlex | W4403041352 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 11 |
In this paper we examine the orientation of Prasat Hin Phimai (an Angkorian-style Buddhist temple in Northeast Thailand) for its astronomical embodiment that could enrich the understanding of ancient culture and potentially date the temple. The obliquely-oriented Phimai Temple may have been aligned with an auspicious star observed relative to the Sun on the horizon, according to the ancient Indian Vastu Shastra principles of architecture. By comparing the azimuth of the temple, which was archaeoastronomically surveyed on-site, to that of stars estimated using precessional-corrected Stellarium, we discovered that only the Pleiades was aligned with the temple’s Eastern Gate at approximately 69.5° azimuth during the Khmer era. Further validation through traces of ethnoastronomy revealed that the Pleiades Full Moon Day (a Full Moon with the Pleiades) opposite the Sun in Scorpius may have been favored for aligning the temple, giving rise to an approximate period of orientation, and consequently the building of the original temple between 1007 and 1147 CE. These findings suggest a close connection with Mon Culture, a possible architect, and a potential patron. A New Year celebration and the entrance to the temple may have related to Agni, the presiding deity of the Pleiades
Ancient history · Astronomy · Geography · Geometry · Physics · Temple · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Historical and Architectural Studies · Historical Astronomy and Related Studies · History · Mathematics
Archaeoastronomy in the Khmer Heartland
The Astronomical Orientation of the Thai Phra That Doi Suthep Temple in Relation to the Acronychal Rising of Αlpha Corona Borealis and Visakha Bucha Day
Simulated Sky
Knowledge of astronomy in Sanskrit texts of architecture (orientation methods in the ???na ?iv a gurudev apaddhati)
| Highly cited | No |
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