Astronomy and World Heritage
“The Astronomy and World Heritage project offers a possibility to evaluate and recognize the importance of astronomical heritage in terms of enrichment of the history of humanity, the promotion of cultural diversity and the development of international exchange. Support from the international community is needed to save the properties connected with astronomy from progressive deterioration and to recognize the astronomical heritage by the inclusion of the most representative of these properties on the World Heritage List.”
It was this thematic initiative from the UNESCO and the IAU on the theme of IYA2009 projects that prompted NARIT, the National nodes for IYA2009 in Thailand, to conduct the following activity to join the celebration of this extra special year of astronomy at an astronomical historic site in Thailand so as to increases the importance of the site to the level of the astronomical world heritage..
Seminar on Astronomical Wonders at Prasat Phnom Rung, Buri Ram in North- East Thailand
Prasat Hin Phnomrung, was built as a Hindu temple on top of the extinct volcano, Phu Phnom Rung, in Buriram Province, North Eastern Thailand. It is an ancient Khmer site constructed around the 12th century A.D as the palaces of the Hindu God, Siva. The architectural remains in the precinct of Prasat Phnom Rung are many and varied, revealing that construction in the area spanned several centuries. The architecture styles are of the structures starting at the bottom of the hill and leading up to the main sanctuary on the hilltop. This 12th century Khmer ruins have been restored after 17 years of painstaking work and are the best preserved Khmer monuments in Thailand. The most important structure is the main sanctuary located on the hilltop as the centre of the temple. The main sanctuary and all adjacent elements have their 15 doorways in the same line. This leads to a wonderful and dignified astronomical aspect which should enable this ancient historic site to be listed as one of the world astronomical heritages.
The astronomical aspects can be observed at Prasat Phanom Rung nowadays as well as when the temple was constructed. The aspects are embedded in the orientation of the 15 doorways of the main sanctuary. Nearly all Khmer temples are orientated so that twice a year the sun rises aligned with the centre-line of the sanctuary. Actually, the sun rays pass straight through this 15 perfectly aligned doorways of Prasat Phnom Rung just four times a year -– two sets of sunrises, in April and September, and two sets of sunsets, in March and October. The genius of Prasat Phanom Rung could be that the period from the sunset to the sunrise is equal to one lunar month. The two yearly solar events cannot therefore be separated; they are coupled. Knowing the exact moment to witness a spectacular sunrise or sunset through the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple requires a detailed calculation. It seemed the lay-out was intended to have astronomical significance although some people argued that the orientation is a coincidence. The astronomical knowledge was available in the last part of the 1st millennium; but the ancient Khmer master-builders did not leave us any written evidence of their intentions.
photo credit: http://www.thaisurin.com
photographer: Asger Mollerup
Sunset through 15 doorways of the main sanetuary at Prasat Phnom Rung
7 March 2009
To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, NARIT has conducted an informal on site seminar on “Astronomical Wonders of Prasat Phnom Rung” to raise public awareness, especially with young people, about the safeguarding of scientific heritage, and to enhance the links between astronomy and culture. This activity was in accordance with the IAU and UNESCO global project Astronomy and World Heritage. Although Prasat Phnomrung has not yet been enlisted as a world heritage, its importance as an astrocultural site may not be denied, at least from the point of view of Thai people.
The seminar which took place at Prasat Phnom Rung on 7 March 2009 received much attention from students and the public. The majestic ruins of the Phanom Rung Temple formed the centrepiece of this event. During the discussion forum, much was discussed on how the detailed calculation for the exact time and date that the rays of sunrises and sunsets would pass through the 15 aligned doorways of the main sanctuary. Participants also suggested some practical ideas on how to enhance public awareness on the temples as an astrocultural site.
