City fortifications of Sukhothai

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City fortifications of Sukhothai with the location of the gates

The city ​​fortifications of Sukhothai are located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sukhothai Historical Park , 13 km west of the modern city ​​of Sukhothai in the province of Sukhothai in north- central Thailand . Today's cultural monument surrounded Sukhothai's capital during the time of the kingdom .

Structure and history

The city fortifications consist of a triple wall and ditch system. The earth walls, of which the outer one was clad with laterite and bricks , were separated from one another by moats up to 20 m wide. The fastening system forms an approximate rectangle with sides of around 1,800 m on the north and south sides and around 1,400 m on the east and west, so that an area of ​​a total of 2.5 square kilometers was enclosed. There were a total of four city gates, one in each of the four directions.

The city wall was at the latest in the second half of the 13th; Century. In the first document in Thai script, the so-called Inscription No. 1, dated to the year 1292, King Ramkhamhaeng credits himself with the fortification of the city. In addition to the outer stone cladding, which was probably attached later, there was only one other fundamental repair measure, probably not until after the Sukhothai era in the 16th century, when the city was already a dependent part of the Ayutthaya kingdom .

Pratu San Luang (north gate)

The north gate was flanked by earth fortifications that can still be seen in the area today. The Thanon Phra Ruang ended at this city gate - coming from Si Satchanalai . Historians are discussing whether the area immediately in front of the gate may have served as a marketplace for the exchange of goods between the two royal cities.

Pratu Kamphaen Hak (East Gate)

The east gate was destroyed during the construction of Thailand Route 12 . Today only the broken walls and marshy ditches to the right and left of the highway can be seen.

  • Pratu Kamphaen Hak
    Innerer, defensive wall broken to the left of the road

  • Pratu Kamphaen Hak
    Heavily silted up inner ditch; in the background the inner defensive wall

Pratu Namo (South Gate)

The south gate is located in the middle of the southern wall and ditch system. It was provided with a defense tower. A diagnostic situation directly outside the gate is unique . Here is a brick platform with laterite columns and a pedestal on which there were probably sculptures.

  • Pratu Namo
    building outside the gate

  • Pratu Namo
    building outside the gate

  • Pratu Namo
    Wall and moat system

  • Pratu Namo
    Outer Trench

  • Pratu Namo
    excavation of a finding outside the gate
    (as of December 2013)

Pratu Or (west gate)

Pratu Or, which opens the city to the western range of hills with the monasteries of the forest monks , is completely constructed with laterite stones.

  • Pratu Or
    view from the east (inside)

  • Pratu Or
    part of the south

  • Pratu Or
    Boggy Trench

  • Pratu Or
    Boggy Trench

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Dawn F. Rooney: Ancient Sukhothai. Thailand's Cultural Heritage . River Books, Bangkok 2008, p. 71, ISBN 978-974-9863-42-8 .
  2. ^ David K. Wyatt: 1991, Contextual arguments for the authenticity of the Ram Khamhaeng inscription . In James R. Chamberlain (Ed.): The Ram Khamhaeng Controversy . The Siam Society, Bangkok 1991, pp. 439-452.
  3. ↑ Charaspim Boonyanant: The Comparative study of the planning and physical characteristics between Sukhothai and Chiangmai ancient city . IFLA APR 2011, p. 6.
  4. ^ Dawn F. Rooney: Ancient Sukhothai. Thailand's Cultural Heritage . River Books, Bangkok 2008, p. 108, ISBN 978-974-9863-42-8 .
  5. ^ Dawn F. Rooney: Ancient Sukhothai. Thailand's Cultural Heritage . River Books, Bangkok 2008, p. 130, ISBN 978-974-9863-42-8 .
  6. ^ Dawn F. Rooney: Ancient Sukhothai. Thailand's Cultural Heritage . River Books, Bangkok 2008, p. 149, ISBN 978-974-9863-42-8 .