0 Likes
The Bakong (in Khmer, "Crinum asiaticum (Amaryllidaceae), herbaceous plant with beautiful white flowers") is the state temple of Indravarman I, consecrated in 881.
This temple-mountain is erected on the remains of a building built by Jayavarman II in Hariharalaya (near present-day Roluos) southeast of Angkor1.
It is dedicated to the personalized Śiva in Indreshvara (Indra's protege), deification of Indravarman I.
Built just after the Preah Kô, it is the prototype of many Hindu Khmer mountain temples; it is a five-degree pyramid on a square base of 65 m, decorated with garuda, naga and Yaksha, whose stairs are guarded by lions. His decorations are in very poor condition for the most part.
On this terrace was erected a central tower which was replaced in the twelfth century by a tower in the style of Angkor Wat.
The temple is surrounded by three walls with gopura-shaped openings. In the inner enclosure, several towers (prasat) surround the pyramid as well as small buildings, all built in brick except the lintels which are finely carved sandstone.
The central pyramid was reconstituted by anamylosis by Maurice Glaize between 1936 and 1943 from a pile of stones, resulting from the test of time, destruction and reworking.
The external speakers alternate with moats.