Prang two brothers

Terrain

General condition

Prang two brothers have been restored to be in good condition. and is currently under the supervision of the Si Thep Historical Park.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Pa Sak River, about 5 kilometers to the west, and the Hieng River. It is a tributary of the Pa Sak River. It is about 8 kilometers south of Si Thep city.

Geological conditions

Prang Song Phi Nong is located in the ancient city of Si Thep. which is in the central highlands In general, there are complex mountain ranges. Positioned in a long line from north to south. starting from Loei, Phetchabun, Saraburi and the south of Nakhon Ratchasima There are continuous undulating hills alternating with high mountains. Important mountain ranges are Phetchabun Mountains In the east of Si Thep city

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Prang two brothers Located in the center of Si Thep City It was probably first built as a Hindu temple in the Shiva sect. Built around the 16th-17th Buddhist century, but later in the 18th Buddhist century, corresponding to the reign of Jayavarman VII, it may have been modified to be a Buddhist temple. and later would have been abandoned along with Si Thep city in the same distance.

The origin of the name Prang Song Phi Nong is the name that the villagers call because there are two castles located together.

The architectural style is a Khmer castle. Made of bricks without mortar There are traces of plaster on the outer wall. The plan consists of two castles located next to each other in a north-south line on the same base. Both castles face west. The large castle located to the north of the small castle has a square plan to add corners. There is a porch protruding to the west which is the entrance. The other three sides are the pseudo-gates. In front of the castle porch there is a laterite base in the shape of a cross. (Assumed to be the base of Mondop, Fine Arts Department, 2007, 98)

The roof collapsed until the shape was not visible. But from excavation found carambola petals decorated with laterite roof (Ornuch Sangcharaj, 1984, 6-7). Each tier is decorated with a serpent embroidered to the top that is a magic. The overall shape of the upper part is probably the same canopy shape as Prasat Hin Phimai Phanom Rung, which was an important development of the Khmer castle during the 16th Buddhist century.

Inside the castle, arches were drilled on three sides of the castle walls. It may be where idols or offerings are enshrined. or lighting and laterite altars were also found for enshrining idols (Department of Fine Arts, 2007, 97).

The small castle on the south side Originally, only part of the lower elemental house was left, but has been repaired and added up to install lintels found in the same area (Department of Fine Arts, 2007, 100). The material and overall shape are the same as the large castle. but has reduced the complexity of the base and the stacking of the element house and did not form a porch protruding forward.

Important antiques found at the Song Phi Nong Prang, including Siwa Lingam, Than Yoni and Konnthi, are buried underground at the level of the building base. Therefore, it is assumed that the original prang of the two brothers was probably a Hindu temple in the Shiva sect. The age may have been determined around the 17th Buddhist century from the lintels and columns adorning the door frames in the Baphun Khmer art style found from excavation.

From the excavation of the two brothers' prang also found that and laterite walkways at the southern entrance of the small castle This group of buildings built with laterite walkways may be assumed to be residence halls. or a building called Bannalai In addition, traces of laterite formation were also found to adjust the prang floor to be the same as the ancient site that was added later. It is assumed that the improvement of the area around Prang Song Phi Nong would be done to solve the flooding problem during the flooding season. Due to excavation around the castle, soil layers showing the water immersion characteristics (Ornuch Sangrajrajat, 1984, 6-7)

Other interesting evidence found around the Song Phi Nong Prang, including the discovery of the sun god or the sun god. carved from sandstone At the laterite base in the shape of a cross Age set in the 13th Buddhist century (Department of Fine Arts, 2007, 103). Combined with the 5 Buddha images that have been found before, 6 Buddha images were found in Si Thep, a total of 6 Buddha images, dating in the 12th-13th Buddhist century ( Currently exhibited and preserved in Bangkok National Museum, 3 pieces, 1 Norton Simon Museum, USA, 1 King Narai Lopburi National Museum and 1 preserved at Sri Thep Historical Park). Found at the two brothers prang may have been taken from other places. as well as a stone amphitheater placed in front of the entrance to the Grand Palace's main chamber. But it is considered an important evidence reflecting the cult of worshiping the sun god at Si Thep. A unique identity that is different from other Dvaravati towns that flourished during the same period.