Ancient Siam

Ancient Siam (also known as Ancient City, Thai: เมืองโบราณ, Mueang Boran) is a museum park constructed by Lek Viriyaphant and occupying over 200 acres (0.81 km²) in the shape of Thailand.

For other uses, see History of Thailand.

Ancient City

เมืองโบราณ
Entrance gate to the park in 2009
Established	11 February 1972 (1972-02-11)
Location	Bangpoo, Samut Prakan, Thailand
Coordinates	13°32′21.498″N 100°37′22.515″E
Type	Outdoor history museum
Founder	Lek and Praphai Viriyahphant
Website	www.muangboranmuseum.com

Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world's largest outdoor museum, although it is smaller than Inhotim in Brazil, for example. Close to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan Province, the 320-hectare "city" features 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions. The grounds of Ancient Siam correspond roughly to the shape of the kingdom, with the monuments lying at their correct places geographically. Some of the buildings are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled down. Still others are "creative designs," and not replicas of any historical structure.

The replicas were constructed with the assistance of experts from the National Museum to ensure historical accuracy. Outstanding works include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed in the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wat Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.

History

Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall, Ayuthayan kings' palace, Ancient Siam replica

Lek Viriyaphant was interested in art since childhood, which inspired him to establish the Ancient City. Initially, he intended to build a Thai map-shaped golf course where miniatures of important national ancient sites were placed, which aimed to serve tourism and education purposes only.

Lek started doing research on the establishment of the Ancient City. He found that many ancient sites had been left in decay. Thus, he changed the concept of the Ancient City from being a tourism attraction and relaxation to an open-air museum for education purpose to benefit newer generations who would be proud of their national heritage.

Lek continually created artwork in the Ancient City as well as the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya and the Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan until the end of his life on 17 November 2000.

Recent events

In 2006, America's Next Top Model, Season 6, the reality show from the US, has led the contestants to the finals by using the Pavilion of the Saint as a runway. It was a model platform that was the largest in the show's history. In the area, Sanphet castle model was the place where the winner was announced.

On 29 September 2009, 500 activists from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protested at the model of the Preah Vihear Temple in Ancient Siam. They claimed that the temple belonged to Thailand although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague had ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

Architecture by timeline

The Pavilion of the Enlightened, a "creative design" not based on any historic structure.

The Ancient City displays significant architectural achievements from different eras. They are arranged chronologically.^[1]

• Pre-historical
• Dvaravati (11th – 16th centuries BE)
• Srivichaya (13th – 18th BE)
• Khmer or Ancient Khmer (16th – 18th BE)
• Lanna (16th – 25th BE)
• Lan Chang (16th – 21st BE)
• Hariphunchai (17th – 19th BE)
• Sukhothai (17th – 20th BE)
• Authong (17th – 20th BE)
• Ayutthaya (19th – 24th BE)
• Thonburi (24th BE)
• Rattanakosin (25th BE)

List of replicas

Replica from Original	Reconstructed Original	Creative Design
The Royal Stand	A Monk's Residence	Khun Chang Khun Phaen Garden
Phra That Chom Kitti, Chiang Rai	The Hall of Wat Nimit, Trat	Dvaravati Wihan
The Fruit Shape Tower (Prang Mafuang), Chai Nat	The Shrines	The Information Pavilion
The Wihan at Wat Phumin, Nan	The Thai Hamlet from the Central Plains	The Garden of Sacred Stupa
The City Wall and Gate	The Shrine housing the City Pillar	I-Nao Garden
The Footprint of the Lord Buddha, Saraburi	The Old Market Town	The City Sala
Phra Chedi Sri Song Rak, Loei	The Scripture Repository	The Yamaka Patiharn
Prasat Sadok Kok Thom, Sa Kaeo	The Bell Tower	The Manohra Garden
The Mondop housing the standing footprints of the Lord Buddha, Uttaradit	The Palace Garden	The Garden of Phra Aphaimani, Rayong
The Ancient Theatrical Pavilion	The Floating Market	The Courage of the people of Bang Rachan
Prang Sam Yod, Lop Buri	The Anthropological Museum	The Krai Thong Garden
The Wihan of Wat Pho Kao Ton, Sing Buri	The Wihan at Wat Phrao, Tak	Sala of Ten Reincarnations
Phra That Bang Phuan, Nong Khai	The Meditation Retreat	Sumeru Mountain
The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Nakhon Si Thammarat	The Thai-Songdam Village	The Garden Of The Gods
The Old Sea Wall at Chachoengsao	Wat Chong Kham, Lampang	The Reclining Buddha
The Pallava Group of Images, Phaug-Nga	The Wihan at Sa-Moeng, Chiang Mai	Sala of 80 Yogi
The Garden of Pha Daeng-Nang Ai (Rocket Festival characters)	The Wihan of Wat Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai	Mondop of Bodhisattva Avalokitesavara (Kuan-Yin)
The Red Block Fort, Chanthaburi	The Water Hall	Bodhisattva Avalokitesavara (Kuan-Yin) performing a miracle
The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Chaiya, Surat Thani	The Northern Thai Village	The Buddha Image of Dvaravati Period
The Gateway of Wat Pho Prathap Chang, Phichit		The Lotus-Bud Flower
Phra That Narai Cheng Weng, Sakon Nakhon		Sala of Ramayana
The Lan Chang styled Scripture Repository and Wihan		Phra That Mondop
The Tiger King's Palace, Phetchaburi		The garden of the Prince of the Golden Conch
The Prang of Wat Chulamanee, Phitsanulok		The Botanical Garden of Thai Literature
Phra That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom		The Great Battle of Yuthahathi
The Giant Swing and Brahmin Temple		Pavilion of the Enlightened
The Sukhothai Wihan		Monument of Krom Phra Ratchawang Boworn Maha Surasinghanat
Prasat Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear), Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia		An Image of Hindu Deity with a Mitred Crown
The Audience Hall of Thonburi		The Rainbow Bridge
The Dvaravati House		Phra Lo's Garden, Phrae
The Bench of Public Appeals, Sukhothai		Pavilion of Recallection
Prasat Hin Nong Ku, Roi Et		The Buddha image being protected by the seven headed Naga
Phra That Ya Khu, Kalasin		Thai Junk
The Grand Hall of Wat Maha That, Sukhothai		Sala 24 Katanyu (Pavilion of the Icons of Gratitude)
The Prang at Si Thep, Phetchabun		Sala Kong Beng (Zhuge Liangs Pavilion)
Ku Khu Maha That, Maha Sarakham		Mondop Phra Si Thit
Khun Phaen House		The Ramayana Garden
Noen Prasat, Sukhothai		The Octagonal Sala
The Main Chedi of Wat Maha That, Sukhothai		The Churning of the Ocean
Three Pagoda Pass, Kanchanaburi		The Phra Kaew Pavilion
Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (The Grand Palace)
Ho Kham, Lampang
Rattanakosin Dwelling
The Chedi of Cham Thewi, Lamphun
The Wihan at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya
The Stupa of Wat Phra That Sam Muen, Chaiyaphum
Sanphet Prasat Palace, Ayutthaya
Chedi Chet Yod, The Seven Spired Pagoda, Chiang Mai
The Phanom Rung Sanctuary, Buriram
The Chom Thong Palace Hall, Ayutthaya
The Kam Yaad Palace Hall, Ang Thong
Prasat Sikhoraphum, Surin
The Phimai Sanctuary, Nakhon Ratchasima

See also

• Sanctuary of Truth
• Erawan Museum
• List of museums in Thailand
• List of museums and art galleries in Bangkok