Preah Khan (Preah Vihear)
Preah Khan (local name Prasat Bakan ) is a Khmer temple complex in the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear in the Kompong Svay district, north of Kampong Thom . It is the largest temple complex of the Angkorian era, but not to be confused with the temple of the same name at Angkor .
history
It was founded by Suryavarman I (1001-1050), who extended his empire to the south of today's Laos , the main group of temples is dated to the 12th century and probably comes from the time of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). Most of the temples show the Bayon style from the end of the century under Jayavarman VII (1181 to around 1215), who retreated here for some time during the war against the Cham .
Design
The outer, almost square, border is over four kilometers long on each side. There are four groups of temples and numerous outbuildings inside, some temples are also outside of this area. A three kilometer long baray extends across the enclosure halfway to the east. Except for a larger lake in the eastern area, it is dry. Directly at the east end of the Baray, surrounded by a laterite wall, stands the small Prasat Preah Damrei ("Elephant Temple ") from the 9th century. The free-standing stone sculpture of an elephant is worshiped by the local population, another elephant looks out from the southeast corner of the surrounding wall. The reliefs on the outer walls, which show Nagas with Garuda and Apsaras (heavenly nymphs), are worth seeing . On both sides of the east entrance are life-size Devatas (lower sky goddesses for guarding).
At the west end of the Baray is the Prasat Preah Stung within its own wall with gopurams . In the center of the complex from the 11th century stands a temple tower with four faces, as they are known from the Bayon in Angkor , on a terrace with semi-plastic Hamsa reliefs (geese, Indian symbol of harmony) . The cruciform sandstone temple Preah Thkol , also Mebon (temple island), formerly stood on an island in the middle of the Baray. The inner corners of the tower are decorated with large elephants and garudas.
The main group of temples from the 12th century in the center is entered through the eastern Gopuram. A tall four-face tower stands amidst the remains of the rubble.
The temples were first dedicated to Vishnu , under Jayavarman VII, as in Angkor, Mahayana Buddhism was introduced. In the 1870s, Louis Delaporte removed valuable sculptures from the temples. They can be seen today in the Guimet Museum in Paris. Looting has left most of the buildings collapsed. You can arrive (only in the dry season) on dirt roads from Siem Reap or Kompong Thom.
Web links
- Kasuzo Iwase: Careful photo documentation, title in English, partly in Japanese.
Coordinates: 13 ° 24 ′ 30.2 " N , 104 ° 44 ′ 59.6" E