Le Cambodge, II Les provinces siamoises | The Siamese Provinces

Indefatigable explorer, multi-talented researcher, Etienne Aymonier had solid connections with the highest levels of the Kingdom of Siam, including a close friendship to Prince Damrong.

In this detailed books, he asserts himself as a pioneer in the archaeological, architectural and historical fields, for instance with:

• the first identification of Ayuthia as "la ville des frontieres royales de l'ancien Cambodge" ["The Royal Border City"], "its Siamese name being the shortening of the Cambodian "Angkor reach sema", the latter itself a corruption of the Sanskrit Nagarajasema", "nowadays Old Korat and not the district capital founded by the Siamese."
• the first detailed description of the Sukhotai and Phimai sites, with this map of "Phimaie" for instance:
• the first attempt in deciphering and interpreting the Sdok Kak Thom ("The Lake of the Big Reeds") stele found in the Sisophon region, a major epigraphic discovery.