Kuk Preah Theat (Hanchey): Difference between revisions

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| builder        = Bhavavarman I
| builder        = Bhavavarman I
| art_style      = [[Thala Borivat]]
| art_style      = [[Thala Borivat]]
| material      = Basalt
| material      = Basalt (?)
| religion      = Hindu
| religion      = Hindu
| deity          = Shiva
| deity          = Shiva
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[[File:Small-Prasat.jpg|frameless|link=:category:Small Prasat|Site Size & Condition: Small Prasat]] Kuk Preah Theat (គុកព្រះធាតុ - Pronounced: Kok Preah Theat)  
[[File:Small-Prasat.jpg|frameless|link=:category:Small Prasat|Site Size & Condition: Small Prasat]] Kuk Preah Theat (គុកព្រះធាតុ - Pronounced: Kok Preah Theat)  


is one of the only two temples made out of volcanic basalt stones, the other is Asram Maha Eisei in Angkor Borei, Takeo. There are discussions that this Prasat was built between the 6-7th century. The site was restored in 2008 and during the restoration work, a base of another tower was discovered beside it.
This unusual site lies close to the riverbank just north of Phnom Hanchey and consists of 1 ruined, and 1 intact, square shrine constructed using a grey volcanic stone. The material is said to be basalt, although we're not entirely convinced, but it is clearly the same stone used at [[Prasat Asram Moha Russei]] and these are the only 2 known sites to employ this material. Although clearly dating to the same period, (generally considered to be the late 6th, Bhavavarman I period), the 2 temples are fundamentally different in design with Kuk Preah Theat being smaller in size and lacking either the distinctive inner cell - or ''garbhagrha'' - found at the Takeo site or any windows. The latter is of course a solitary tower while this site featured at least 2 towers and a possible enclosing wall.
 
The lintel, also in the volcanic stone, is somewhat similar in style to the 'cell shrine' at nearby Phnom Hanchey and while featuring the classic Thala Borivat makaras has a central arch divided into 2 smaller ones and perhaps reflects a transition stage betweeen [[Thala Borivat]] and [[Sambor Prei Kuk]] styles.  
 
The site was restored in 2008 and it was during the restoration work that the base of the second tower was uncovered. These small, grey shrines are highly reminscent of the early 7th-century, Pallava-influenced, Hindu shrines constrcuted on Java;s Dieng Plateau.  




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== Image Gallery ==
== Image Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 1.jpg|Tower in 2006
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 1.jpg|Pre restoration inage in 2006
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 2.jpg|Tower and foundations of 2nd
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 2.jpg|TFoundations of 2nd shrine
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 3.jpg|Lintel in situ
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 3.jpg|Lintel in situ
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 4.jpg|Yoni inside tower
File:120 Kuk Preah Theat 4.jpg|Yoni inside tower

Revision as of 23:01, 9 May 2021

Kuk Preah Theat
Native Nameគុកព្រះធាតុ
Alternative namePrasat Neang Khmau
BA#C0306006
CISARK#120
IK#83.02
SizeSmall
ConditionIntact
TypeTemple
Location
Part ofPhnom Hanchey
VillageHanchey
CommuneHanchey
DistrictKampong Siem
ProvinceKampong Cham
CountryCambodia
Coordinates12.16533,105.52932
History
FoundedLate 6th Century
BuilderBhavavarman I
Art StyleThala Borivat
MaterialBasalt (?)
ReligionHindu
DeityShiva
Year/s Restored2008



120 Kuk Preah Theat 2.jpg
4.00
(2 votes)


Site Size & Condition: Small Prasat Kuk Preah Theat (គុកព្រះធាតុ - Pronounced: Kok Preah Theat)

This unusual site lies close to the riverbank just north of Phnom Hanchey and consists of 1 ruined, and 1 intact, square shrine constructed using a grey volcanic stone. The material is said to be basalt, although we're not entirely convinced, but it is clearly the same stone used at Prasat Asram Moha Russei and these are the only 2 known sites to employ this material. Although clearly dating to the same period, (generally considered to be the late 6th, Bhavavarman I period), the 2 temples are fundamentally different in design with Kuk Preah Theat being smaller in size and lacking either the distinctive inner cell - or garbhagrha - found at the Takeo site or any windows. The latter is of course a solitary tower while this site featured at least 2 towers and a possible enclosing wall.

The lintel, also in the volcanic stone, is somewhat similar in style to the 'cell shrine' at nearby Phnom Hanchey and while featuring the classic Thala Borivat makaras has a central arch divided into 2 smaller ones and perhaps reflects a transition stage betweeen Thala Borivat and Sambor Prei Kuk styles.

The site was restored in 2008 and it was during the restoration work that the base of the second tower was uncovered. These small, grey shrines are highly reminscent of the early 7th-century, Pallava-influenced, Hindu shrines constrcuted on Java;s Dieng Plateau.


Map Location


Image Gallery

  • Pre restoration inage in 2006

    Pre restoration inage in 2006

  • TFoundations of 2nd shrine

    TFoundations of 2nd shrine

  • Lintel in situ

    Lintel in situ

  • Yoni inside tower

    Yoni inside tower

  • Face carvings on tower

    Face carvings on tower

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

Historic Archive

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