Wat Ek Phnom is an
Angkorian
Khmer architecture ( km, ស្ថាបត្យកម្មខ្មែរ), also known as Angkorian architecture ( km, ស្ថាបត្យកម្មសម័យអង្គរ), is the architecture produced by the Khmers during the Ang ...
temple located on the left side of the
Sangkae River
The Sangkae River ( km, ស្ទឹងសង្កែ, ''Stung Sangkae''; also spelled ''Stung Sangké'' or ''Stung Sangkhae'') is one of the main rivers in Battambang Province in north western Cambodia. The Sangkae River is approximately lon ...
at the small creek of Prek Daun Taev northwest the
Peam Aek spot approximately 9 km north of the city of
Battambang
Battambang ( km, បាត់ដំបង, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang Province and the third largest city in Cambodia.
Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is the leading rice-producing province of the coun ...
in north western
Cambodia
Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...
. It is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple built in the 11th century under the rule of King
Suryavarman I
Suryavarman I ( km, សូរ្យវរ្ម័នទី១; posthumously ''Nirvanapada'') was king of the Khmer Empire from 1006 to 1050. Suryavarman usurped King Udayadityavarman I, defeating his armies in approximately 1002. After a protra ...
. Although partly collapsed and looted it is famous for its well-carved
lintels
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of ...
and
pediments
Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape.
Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds.
A pediment ...
.
The site
An enormous white-stone sitting Buddha statue leads to the modern
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
pagoda Ek Phnom surrounded by
18 Bodhi Trees.
The site is deemed as a very popular picnic and pilgrimage destination for Khmers at celebration times. The pagoda opens the way to the ruins of the ancient hinduist temple.
The ancient temple, built of sandstone blocks and enclosed by the remains of a
laterite
Laterite is both a soil and a rock type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by ...
outer wall and a
Baray
A ''baray'' ( km, បារាយណ៍) is an artificial body of water which is a common element of the architectural style of the Khmer Empire of Southeast Asia. The largest are the East Baray and West Baray in the Angkor area, each rectangula ...
, consists of small temples or
prasats on a platform and measures 52m by 49m.
Mostly reduced to ruins today only the main towers of the temple remain standing whose upper flanks hold some fine bas-reliefs.
Bas-reliefs
The bas-reliefs depict events of
Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology is the body of myths and literature attributed to, and espoused by, the adherents of the Hindu religion, found in Hindu texts such as the Vedic literature, epics like ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'', the Puranas, and reg ...
mostly referring to
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
. In the same way as Krishna, Suryavarman I carried out institutional reforms of the state
[Chandler, p.48-51.]
Images of Wat Ek Phnom
Image: Ek_Phnom1.JPG,
Image: Wat Ek 01.jpg,
Images of the ancient Ek Phnom temple
Image: Ek_Phnom4.JPG,
Image: Ek_Phnom5.JPG,
Image: Ek_Phnom6.JPG,
References
Bibliography
*
Chandler, David. ''A History of Cambodia''. Silkworm Books Thailand 4th edition 2008. {{ISBN, 978-974-9511-57-2.
Angkorian sites