Phnom Sambok

Phnom Sambok, also known as Chambak Meas, is a contemporary meditation center, monastery, and ancient site located between Kratie (Krong Kracheh) and Kampi of Kratie Province. The monastery and remnants of the ancient site are spread across two peaks of the small mountain that overlooks the plains alongside the Mekong river.

At the top of the first flight of stairs, you can head left (west) to see some remnants of the ancient temple alongside the path that leads to the meditation huts and prayer/sermon hall, alternatively, head right (east) and up another flight of stairs takes you to the top of the mountain and a series of shrines.

The west peak, ancient remnants, meditation huts and sermon/prayer hall

At the top of the eastern side, there is a vestibule containing a chaitya and Buddha statue, another small vestibule with the moonstone from the ancient temple leaning against it, then looking down you can see a contemporary prasat in the ancient style which is quite nice, containing a sculpture of Nandin/Preah Ko.

From the notes of George Coedes, he speculated the date of the ancient site to be around the middle of the 7th century based on epigraphy. Research in recent times notes Sivapada worship at the site in tandem with possible hommage paid to warriors in what may have been the area of a great battle in ancient times (see further reading below).

The site, as per the greater area, is quite fascinating, having a very ancient pre-Angkorian heritage, and heritage in the post-Angkorian era.

Historical Notes

According to E. Lunet de Lajonquière’s site report from 1902, the ancient brick temple on the western summit had completely collapsed while laterite steps led to the temple on the eastern summit which was a square brick temple with a door opening to the north noting that it was unfinished. In 1904, Leclere would add, that the side faces featured decorated pilasters, also, it was the provenance of a cubic deposition stone, a representation of Vishnu, and four linga.

Parmentier’s later report provides another important point, the conversion of a sanctuary into a chedi

Phnom Sambok (Phnom Sambok. I. 185). As acknowledged by M. de Lajonquière, the two peaks of unequal height of Phnom Sambok received constructions. That of the main summit, which is rectangular and not square, seems to have been transformed into a chetdey: for this operation, it was necessary to fill the gaps in the tower, which was two rooms of unequal dimensions: the bricks of the lower sanctuary seem to have been used this job.

Phnom Sambok inscriptions. Two inscriptions have escaped M. de Lajonquière. The outer beak of the somasutra of the upper building presented towards its end four lines of large characters (0.21 x 0.12): unfortunately the broken end could not be found, despite all our searches. This inscription, discovered in 1875 by Mr. Harmand, had not been found by Mr. Aymonier: cf. FINOT, Bull. Com. Archeol. Indoch., 1912. p. 183.

One of the slabs left on the lower summit bore an inscription; it was pointed out to us by Mr. Galtier, resident of Kračeh, who had kindly accompanied us on this visit (remains of 11 lines, beginning only of the last 7; 0.50 X 0.32). New registration.

Parmentier Henri. IX L’art présumé du Fou-nan. In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 32, 1932. pp. 183-189.

Inscriptions

• K. 429 – water spout – 4 lines of Sanskrit – Finot 1912[b], p. 183
• K. 430 – slab – 11 lines of Khmer – IC VI, p. 44
• K. 1373 – stone fragment – Sanskrit – Chollet/Goodall 2020

Further reading

• La prouesse martiale et les pieds de Śiva. Note au sujet de l’inscription préangkorienne K. 1373 du Phnom Sambok

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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