SW visits a memorable museum
By Itsarin Tisantia
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Located in Suphan Buri province, the U Thong National Museum displays a collection of archeological stones and historical objects that are more than a thousand years old. The museum is renowned as a center of archeology and history, with a must-see collection of artworks and artefacts from the Dvaravati period.
Student Weekly looks at some of the museum’s highlights for this week’s Freeze Frame.
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This stone, which is 155 centimetres tall and 95 centimetres wide, is an example of Dvaravati art dating from about 1,400 years ago. |
This dharmachakra pillar, the top of which is a carved bunch of lotus flowers, dates from around the 7th or 8th century. It is one of the significant symbols of Buddhism. |
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This zone exhibits a collection of necklaces and lockets, some of which are made of terracotta and gold. |
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The U Thong: A Hub of Buddhism zone displays life-sized models of locals producing dharmachakra statutes. |
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This ancient terracotta object portrays monks carrying alms bowls. It is believed to be the oldest Indian-influenced artifact found in Thailand. |
The exhibition shows a number of silver coins and inscriptions on memorial stones made in the Dvaravati style. |
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The Ancestors of U Thong zone displays an exhibition of stones, ornaments, coins and tools found between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago, all of which are arranged chronologically. |
EXERCISE
Read the following sentences. Then, underline the correct words in each of the sentences from the choices given.
1. There is a Dvaravati inscription/prescription/subscription on the memorial stone.
2. The zone disposes/displays/distinguishes life-sized models of people creating dharmachakra sculptures.
3. The U Thong National Museum is placed/displaced/located in Suphan Buri province.
4. This stone represents/recognises/rearranges Dvaravati art.
Vocabulary
- Dvaravati (n): a period of history that lasted from the 6th to the 13th centuries
locket (n): a piece of jewellery in the form of a small case that you wear on a chain around your neck
terracotta (n): a reddish-brown clay that has been baked, used for making pots, etc.
ornament (n): an object that is worn as jewellery
chronologically (adv): arranged in the order in which they happened
