Phnom Bakheng

The Shiva consecrated pyramid temple Phnom Bakheng is located on the homonymous hill near the Cambodian town of Siem Reap, west of the road between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The Khmer word " Phnom " means an abruptly rising elevation.

History

King Yasovarman I ( reign 889 to about 915 ) moved the capital of his empire from the not far distant Roluos in the area, that is Angkor today; on all four the level outstanding hills he left temple build: on the Phnom Dei in the north, the Phnom Bok in the east, the Phnom Krom in the south and the Phnom Bakheng in the West. The latter point is 55 m high hill he chose as the location for its new state temple; round he let his new capital Yasodharapura build, a square with a side length of 4 km (and thus larger than the later capital of Angkor Thom ).

During the reign of terror of the Khmer Rouge Phnom Bakheng formed a strategic fortress: From here, you could look in all directions far into the country.

Architecture

The architects took advantage of the rock substance of the hill in order to construct an impressive pyramid temple. In the 200 to 100 m wide platform on the top of the hill is carved out of the rock, the five-step pyramid was thereby allowed to stand: at the base of 76 to 76 m tall, from the base to the top step of 13 m high. It is interesting to attempt to make the pyramid appear higher by perspective illusion: On the upside, the height of the pyramid levels decreased; the lions that guard the stairs, are getting smaller towards the top.

The sides of the platform and the pyramid look at the main points of the compass; about 70 ° steep stairs lead on all four sides -center to the central sanctuary up. This architecture symbolized in their orientation harmony with heaven and earth, in structure to the center and upward path leading to the gods who live on Mount Meru.

The temple has, in addition to the central Prasat 108 more towers. 108 is in Hinduism - as in Buddhism - a sacred number. Certainly played the viable underground of Phnom Bakheng a major role in deciding the number 108 to put into the Towers. Around the base of the pyramid around 44 brick towers grouped, 11 on each side; on the pyramid levels are 60 small sandstone towers, flanking the stairs and adorning the corners; at the top level rises the first Prasat quincunx the Angkor architectural history: five towers arranged like the five dots on the surface of a cube, the central sanctuary larger than the corner towers - this arrangement was characteristic of all later state temple. The physician and Indologist Jean Filliozat took the view that are visible from all points of view, only 33 of the 108 towers; this is the number of gods in Indra's heaven.

In the 16th century, attempts were made to build a large -scale, the highest pyramid level covering completely seated Buddha; apparently used to this sandstone blocks from the central five towers of which are in ruins. The large statue was never completed and removed during restoration work again. During the recent war it came to the Phnom Bakheng to further destruction, what the ruinous impression reinforced.

On the east side of the platform there are two so-called libraries have received, with diamond-shaped openings in the walls. Near the northeastern library is a sandstone lingam. The outer walls of the central sanctuary show sandstone reliefs of Devata and Apsara, the first representations of this kind

Tourism

The view from Phnom Bakheng is popular with tourists, mostly at the end of a tour climb the hill to see the sunset. In a southeasterly direction Angkor Wat can be seen. The stairs that lead up directly on three sides were now locked to protect them from further decay; a fourth, southern staircase was probably planned, but was not built. For tourists there is a new, flatter route.

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