Prasat Thom (Koh Ker)

From Beyond Angkor
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Prasat Thom
Native Nameប្រាសាទធំ
Alternative namePrasat Kraham, Prasat Krahom, Prasat Kampeng
BA#C1304101
CISARK#270
IK#282
K InscriptionK.184, K.185, K.186, K.187, K.188, K.189, K.682, K.770, K.824
Inscr. LocationIn situ
SizeLarge
ConditionRuin
TypeTemple
Location
Part ofPrasat Thom (Koh Ker), Prasat Prang (Koh Ker), Lingapura (Preah Vihear)
VillageKoh Ker
CommuneSrayang
DistrictKulen
ProvincePreah Vihear
CountryCambodia
Coordinates13.78357, 104.53926
History
Founded10th Century
BuilderJayavarman IV
Art StyleKoh Ker
MaterialSandstone, Brick, Laterite
ReligionHinduism
DeityShiva
UNESCO Proposed1992
UNESCO Tentative2020



270 Pr Thom 10.jpg
5.00
(2 votes)


Site Size & Condition: Large Ruin Prasat Thom (ប្រាសាទធំ - Pronounced: Pra-saht Tohm!).

It's debatable whether Prasat Thom - the name given to the group of structures lying immediately east of the great pyramid - is a group of temples, a temple in its own right or a highly elaborate entrance complex for the main site, Prasat Prang (Koh Ker). In any case, the relatively small area between what is today the car-park and the eastern entrance to the pyramid enclosure is packed with brick towers, laterite shrines and sandstone pavilions plus a moat, 4 enclosing walls, gopuras, naga causeways and roofed colonnade. Eclectic is an understatement while the dilapidated, often ruinous, condition of many buildings makes obtaining a clear picture of the site next to impossible.

Beginning in the east (the temple has an unusual east-northeast orientation), the 2 pavilions of Prasat Srot are clearly connected to Prasat Thom and seem to be possible early Khleang structures. A long causeway leads to a large cruciform gopura followed closely by a pair of rectangular, windowless halls and a pair of towers - all in laterite. The purpose is hard to discern unless the former are also Khleang's? Beyond this is a double enclosure wall although the entrance is blocked by a large brick tower known as Prasat Kraham (or Krahom). (Not to be confused with a separate Prasat Kraham to the south of Koh Ker.) Why the tower blocks the entrance is hard to fathom but it's clearly out of place.

We now cross the moat by way of a causeway lined with 2 (ruined) colonnades after which another pair of enclosure walls and another gopura enclose the central area housing no less than 21 small brick shrines, 2 'libraries' and intermittent, Bakheng-style enclosing galleries. Passing through a western gopura, the 2 enclosing walls and another causeway over the moat, leads one to the outer wall and small entrance gopura of the pyramid site itself, Prasat Thom Prang.

The brick towers - mostly ruined - appear older but do share a common alignment with the rest of the site and the Rahal while the sandstone colonnades and gopuras certainly look more recent. Perhaps an early temple at this site determined the Rahal's alignment? Maybe the brick towers pre-date Jayavarman IV and he renovated around them or did he construct the older elements at an early date before adding the more elaborate sections when he'd attained power and had more funds and resources?

An enigmatic but fascinating and picturesque site.


Map Location

Image Gallery

If you would like to upload additional images to the gallery, please refer to the Upload Instructions guide

Historic Archive

A collection of historic photographs, artist sketches, maps etc. (Please ensure that anything you do upload is free of copyright and/or you have permission from the original photographer/artist/author to share)

Nearby Sites

External Links

Links to additional resources such as articles, websites, videos etc.

References


Comments

Loading comments...