Srae Prasat

Located km north of Sandan village in Kampong Thom, Srae Prasat is what remains of a brick temple that may date back to the 6th or 7th century. It is the sole surviving temple in the area and also featured a basin to the east.

The tower opens to the east with a sandstone door frame of a simple form. Whilst externally it has lost all definition in its brickwork, inside the tower is well preserved, you can see a sandstone pitching hook but only on one side, and the brick tower tapers up on the inside like a chimney as opposed to having a staggered reduction. The central deposit well is unexcavated, which may be a promising sign for future archeologists.

Out front, there is a sandstone lintel, quite decayed but you can still make out the basic composition featuring Makara at either end which was typical of the era.

Oddly enough, when we arrived at the site an old lady was digging a hole several meters from the site, deep enough that she could no longer be seen apart from the occasional ladle of dirt flying out! See the first pic in the above set. We tried to ask whether she was hunting for yams, but she simply smiled in response. On the way back we dropped by the local authorities in the village and let them know in case they’d like to go check if she’s OK. Chanthim thought maybe she had a dream about something being there, it’s not without precedent if you recall the story of the East Mebon.

Historical Notes

Prasat Cheachul. The second monument in the riverside area, to the east of Stung Sen. It is located 2 kilometers east from the village of Sre Veal which straddles the river, at the limit of cultivated land and clearing forest.

It is a brick sanctuary, square, open to the east without forebody; it still has most of its vault, but all the exterior terraces are completely ruined. The decorated lintel had fallen on the debris in front of the main east facade is largely decayed by the rains. It was type I of “the makaras”.

AYMONIER, Cambodge, 1. 376.

Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, E. Lunet de Lajonquière, 1902

About fifty kilometers further north is the PRASAT ČOČUL, a square sanctuary of primitive art, in large and beautiful bricks, preceded by a forebody, all oriented to the East 10deg. north. The cella is kept inside up to the top of the vault, without ceiling hooks. Over the inner brick-jamb door is a simple sandstone lintel.

The exterior has lost most of its outer layer. The bare walls, without recesses or false doors, were adorned with double-thickness pilasters. Nothing remains of the upper parts that their mass informs.

The vestibule has a door with very wide sandstone uprights. The columns, which have disappeared, bore a type I lintel with inward-facing makaras, on large abacus. It has three medallions. From the makara we see lions coming out. A character on each monster’s back raises their arm. Above the decor runs a thin frieze. The whole is very rough.

Beside it lies a single grooved pedestal; buddhas, without interest, are inside.

L’art Khmer Primitif, Henri Parmentier, 1935

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via [email protected] - more..