Preah Damrei

Located at Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, immediately northeast of the grand baray, Preah Damrei is a large stepped pyramid featuring staircases on each side rising to the top and where the stairs were once flanked by lions and devata. At each corner sat grand elephant sculptures two of which can still be seen in situ.

At the base, the pyramid was surrounded by a laterite wall with, uniquely, beautiful elephants at each corner, ornate sandstone entrances with false doors on each side except the north where it opens to a long cruciform terrace with a naga balustrade. The art styles and devata flanking the doorways of the entrances are very worthy of attention as is the beautiful garuda on naga end stone still in situ on the balustrade of the terrace.

So, what sat atop this pyramid? Early French researchers noted a deep well at the center of the pyramid which they believed was topped by a fifth elephant as noted by Henri Mauger. Mauger also noted the style of the elephants atop the pyramid (he noted finding four in his 1939 report) attributing them to the tenth century while attributing the style of the lions, dvarapala (no longer at the site), and the entrances/terrace to the 12-13th century. Today, the site is topped by a contemporary shrine.

Historical Images

Site layout illustration and images come via Mauger Henri. Práh Khẵn de Kốmpon Svày. In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 39, 1939. pp. 197-220

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..