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Sundial, calendar and Khmer temples

Astro-archaeology = archaeo-astronomy = Astroarchaeology = archaeoastronomy

Experimental astronomy

applied on research of solar orientation of Khmer temples in SE-Asia.

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Sundial in NE-Thailand (Isan)

     A search into how 'ancient man' might have determined the cardinal directions and the equinoctial points by using a gnomon ('pointer') and a plump. An experiment in astronomy by simple tools on a location between the tropical cancers.

Astroarchaeology and Khmer temples in SE-Asia

     Determination of the orientation of ancient Khmer temples based on solar observations with emphasis on 'temple-mountains' as Prasat Phanom Rung, Prasat Phu Phek (Isan), Prasat Wat Phu (Laos P.D.R.), and Prasat Preah Vihear (Cambodia).

 

The gnomon / sundial

1. Introduction

 

 

Prasat Phanom Rung:

1: General information

2: Astro-Archaeology I: Art

3: Annual festivities

4: The solar-lunar event 2000-2007

2. The sundial

3. Analemma graphs

 

 

5: Archaeoastronomic touring in 2007

6: The Lunar Eclipse, March 2007

7: Phanom Rung, April 2007

8: Astro-archaeology II: Theories.

4. Equinox pointer

 

 

9: Sunrises and sunsets
at Prasat Phanom Rung in 2008

10: อาทิตย์ตรงช่องประตูปราสาทพนมรุ้ง 2551

 

5. Equinox Path

6. Lunar calendar

 

 

Articles in the Muang Boran Journal:

The Sun, the Moon, and Rahu at Prasat Phanom Rung (June 2007) or in Thai:
ภาษาไทย
สุริยัน จันทรา และราหูที่ปราสาทพนมรุ้ง: ข้อสังเกตทางโบราณดาราศาสตร์
(วารสารเมืองโบราณ)

7. Modern constructions
   Planned solar constructions.

8. A modern Solar House
   The author's office with embedded calendric aspects.
 

Articles in the Bangkok Post:

New light on an ancient site
(23 March 2000).

Celestial romp!
(1 March 2007).

2004-2005 exploration

The Cultural Route or the Royal Road
from Angkor in Cambodia to Phimai in Thailand - here named the Dharmasala Route:

The Dharmasala Route

Kuti Rishi Ban Khok Muang:

1: A Jayavarman VII 'hospital'

2: Astro-archaeology (coming).

 

2004-2007 exploration:

Locations of ancient Khmer temples in NE-Thailand (Isan):

Locations of Khmer temples

 

Prasat Phu Phek:

Field research and measurements at a mountain-temple in Sakon Nakon.

Not a 'solar calendar'

 

Determination of true north

Prasat Preah Vihear / Phra Vihan

An ancient Khmer temple orientated towards true north

Preah Vihear

 

Determination of solstice

Muang Tam:

General information

 

 

Determination of true east Prasat Sdok Kok Thom:

An ancient Khmer temple orientated towards true east

General information

 

The Vedic Circle

or the Indian Circle

An ancient method
for determining the cardinal directions.

The jungle temple:

A Khmer temple in no-man's land on the Thai-Cambodian border

Ta Khwai

 

Bayon:

Bayon art

 

 

Wat Phu - Champassak - 2006:

1. Vat Phou (Wat Phu)

2. The Ancient City - Shrestrapura

    (Tomo, Nang Sida, Ban That etc.)

The Vajra

A literature studiy on Indra's thunderbolt, which is also used as a meditation object by Mahayana Buddhist

Banteay Srey:

1: Banteay Srey art

2: Astro-archaeology (coming).

 

Aligning

Link page

 

 

Angkor Wat:

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Solstitial alignments

 

       

NOTE that some of the web-pages below are translated into French.
NOTEZ que certaines pages-web ci-dessous sont traduites en Français

The author has visited and measured some 300 Khmer temples, of which only a few are described here.
Feel free to contact me for pictures and information.

12 January 2008 © Asger Mollerup

macsida@thai-isan-lao.com

www.thai-isan-lao.com