Prang (architecture)

The prang follows a plan of multiple rectangular corners, which on top of each roof step are adorned with antefixes, which mostly take the theme of multi-headed Nāgas, Garudas or deities.

Over the cubic cella rose the central tower, the bud-shaped prang, modeled after the cosmic mountain Meru, crowned by a top stone in form of a lotus bud.

After the Khmer Empire collapsed, the Thai building masters of the Sukhothai Kingdom adapted the Prang form.

The building material was no more separate small sandstone blocks, instead the Thais built the Prang in brick or laterite covered with stucco.

A "more modern" Prang is a slim construction, like an ear of corn, which lets its Khmer origin be only suspected.