The Grand Palace in the Description of Ayutthaya: Translation and Commentary
When visiting the Ayutthaya Historic Park in Central Thailand, one can see the ruins of the ancient capital’s Grand Palace. Not much is left of the site today: only building bases and the iconic pagodas of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet (the Palace’s Temple). No detailed illustrations of the Palace exists to the present day. Luckily, for those seeking to get a glimpse into the past, a description of the Palace can be found in the text known as Description of Ayutthaya. Through the study of this literary piece, we can reconstruct, in our minds, the splendor of this site, which was once the seat of mighty Kings.
Author: Chris Baker
* This article was published in the Journal of Siam Society and is being shared on the Thailand Foundation Website with permission from The Siam Society.
