WAT SAEK





Wat Saek (1) was located on Ayutthaya's city island in the western area of the city in the Pratu Chai Sub-district. The monastery was situated on the south bank of a minor canal or ditch longing the Lao Road between the Rear Palace and the Lam Hoei Bridge (2).


There are no traces anymore visible of the monastery above ground level. I presume this area was already cleared of temple ruins before Phraya Boran Rachathanin arrived in Ayutthaya. Phraya Boran (1871-1936 CE) was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 till 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya.


Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.


Wat Saek on the maps:


The monastery shows on Kaempfer’s sketch and draft map. Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716 CE) was a medical doctor working for the Dutch VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) who surveyed the city of Ayutthaya in June 1690 CE. Wat Saek is situated south of a canal or ditch running from the Rear Palace to Khlong Chakrai Yai, running parallel with Lao Road. In front of the temple was a bridge over the ditch. The site is indicated on a 19th-century map by an unknown surveyor and does not feature on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE, which shows only empty space in that area. Wat Saek was situated between Wat Takhe and Wat Prasat. The map does not indicate the presence of a stupa.


Wat Saek was in approximative geographic coordinates: 14° 21' 1.62" N, 100° 33' 5.46" E.


Footnotes:


(1) Could refer to a 'line in the middle' maybe with the meaning of the 'middle path' in the Buddhist religion or named after the barn owl (Tyto Alba) in the family Tytonidae. However, I do not know temples with such a specific bird denomination. Broad daylight is also a possibility in the sense of brightness.

(2) The Lam Hoei Bridge can be found at the crossing of the present Pa Thon Road with Khlong Tho Road over Khlong Pak Tho. The remains of the old bridge are situated under the current bridge. Engelbert Kaempfer indicated the bridge as 'pons illustris' or illustrious (famous) bridge on his sketch made in June 1690 CE.