Ancient City
| Ancient City | |
|---|---|
The Ancient City
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| Name | |
| Other names | Mueang Boran (Thai: เมืองโบราณ) |
| Proper name | ancient siam |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 13°32′21.498″N 100°37′22.515″E / 13.53930500°N 100.62292083°E |
| Country | Thailand |
| State/province | Samut Prakan |
| Locale | Bangpoo |
| History and governance | |
| Date established | 11 February 1972 |
| Date built | 1963 |
| Creator | Lek and Praphai Viriyahphant |
Ancient Siam (also known as Ancient City, Thai: เมืองโบราณ, Mueang Boran) is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in the shape of Thailand.
The founder's original idea was to create a golf course with miniatures of Thailand's historically significant structures spread around the course. During his research he found most structures severely damaged and decided instead to create new miniatures, to save the original structures when possible, or to re-create them full size or scaled down.
Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world's largest outdoor museum. 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.
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.
Lek Viriyaphant has been interested in art since his 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 November 17, 2000.
In 2549, 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 is the largest in the show's history. In the area, Sanphet castle model was the place to decide the winner.
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Wikipedia