Ta Som
13.46455103.91284Koordinaten: 13 ° 27 ' 52 "N, 103 ° 54' 46" E
The Buddhist temple Ta Som in the archaeological park of Angkor was built in 1190-1210 under Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1220 ) and during the reign of Indravarman extended II (reigned 1220-1243 ). As a typical flat temple with triple mount he is a " simplified miniature version " ( Freeman, Jacques ) of the Ta Prohm temple. Are interesting for tourists, the jungle atmosphere and the eastern Gopuram ( tower faces ) with strangler fig. Large parts of the plant are ruins that are still partially overgrown by vegetation.
1992 UNESCO declared the archaeological park of Angkor, and hence the located inside this park Ta Som Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Location
The Ta Som temple is situated on the Great trail ( Grand Circuit ) within the archaeological park of Angkor ( Cambodia). The temple is located east of Jayatataka Barays (also Eastern Baray ), at the foot of the dike this Barays. The temple lies on an axis with the Preah Khan Neak Pean and 2.5 km north of the Eastern Mebon and 1.8 kilometers east of Neak Pean ( 13d27'52N; 103d54'46E ).
Name
The popular name " Ta Som " means " ancestor Som ". Thus, King Jayavarman VII had built the temple for his teacher and mentor Som. Some researchers have " Ta Som " identified as Gaurashrigajaratna: " jewel of happiness -making white elephants'. This name is mentioned in the Stele of Preah Khan Temple as the home of 24 deities ( see also section "History ").
Location and structure
Like almost all the temples in Angkor, built in the reign of Jayavarman VII, it is also at Ta Som is a typical flat temple with concentric mount (as opposed to the temple mountains, such as the state temple Bayon ).
In comparison to other buildings of this period (Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei ) is Ta Som with a total surface area of 4.5 ha one of the more smaller temples. Building materials are also characteristic of Khmerbauten laterite and sandstone.
The map and the structure of Ta Som temple are simple. The Ta Som temple is according to the typical design principles of the Khmer temple created: axiality and symmetry.
This map of Ta Som temple resembles the much larger monastery of Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm.
Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques grasp map and structure of Ta Som together succinctly: Ta Som appearing like a miniature simplified version of Ta Prohm or Banteay Kdei (Michael Freeman, Claude Jacques, Ancient Angkor, River Books, Bangkok, 2006, p.182 ).
History
Ta Som is one of the smaller under King Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1220 ) built structures ( see Bayon, Preah Khan). The resort was built 1190-1210 and thus historically assigned to the last phase of the Bayon period.
The successors of Jayavarman VII, King Indravarman II (r. about 1220-43/44 ) left, expand the system and add the third ( outer) enclosure.
Since inscriptions in Ta Som temple itself is missing, it is problematic to determine the function of Ta Som. An indication of the Ta Som function as a sanctuary for deities provides the Stele of Preah Khan temple. In the inscription speaks of " Gaurashrigajaratna ". This name means " jewel of the auspicious White Elephant ". Some researchers identify Ta Som Gaurashrigajaratna whose function in the inscription as " home of 24 deities " is mentioned. ( Freeman, Jacques, 2006)
Because of its Angkor something abseitigen within the archaeological park location of the temple was in the 1990s, victims of numerous art robberies. Traces of it can still be seen from the Apsara and Devatafiguren, which some of the heads were cut off. The face of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, which looks to the west, was formerly one of the most photographed objects in Angkor. It was covered by an enormous strangler fig, which framed the face particularly picturesque.
Restoration
The Ta Som temple is currently being restored (in 2008 ) by the World Monuments Fund ( WMF), under whose direction already the Preah Khan Temple was restored in Angkor. Since the 1950s, before any conservation work was carried out.