Ak Yum

Prasat Ak Yum ( Khmer: ប្រាសាទអកយំ ) was an early Khmer temple area of Angkor in Cambodia. He lay at the southern end of the Western Baray.

The built of burnt brick temple in the Kulen style from the last quarter of the 8th century was in its first form from a room. He was probably the beginning of the 9th century under the founder of the Angkor kingdom, Jayavarman II, a three -stepped base, the lower terrace of laterite had about 100 meters on a side. The two upper terraces were made of bricks. The Vishnu consecrated Prasat Ak Yum was thus one of the largest temples of the pre- Angkor period and formed the center of the old city.

The whole area is interesting because it served as a model for the later pyramid temples of the Angkor Empire. As under Suryavarman I in the early 11th century, the Western Baray was created, the Prasat Ak Yum partially disappeared in the water masses. Small residuals are still visible on the southern embankment slope.

Prasat Ak Yum was excavated during the 1930s by Frenchman George Trouvé.