Sangkae Soeng Temple

Located near the Siem Reap-Preah Vihear border, and 1km south of the highway, also known as Prasat Songkei Sheng, it’s a group of four temples, a “library”, with an outer laterite enclosure wall.

On visiting on 01/23, the site is quite overgrown but incredibly fascinating featuring three brick towers in a row on a north-south axis and opening to the east. The central brick tower is a hybrid, part brick/part sandstone featuring a tower of brick with sandstone elements and a long sandstone forebody extending its entrance to the east. The north tower features a decorated sandstone base, reminding me of Trapeang Prasat way up to the north, maybe the other two towers also do but perhaps covered in soil.

These older brick towers are quite special, featuring beautiful symmetry, for example, the flame-bordered pediment arch flowing into the pilasters and nicely balanced eaves. Everything seems to complement everything else. The addition of the fourth tower surely must have been at the behest of the architect. One can only wonder.

Quite oddly, there is a fourth tower, constructed of laterite and brick in parts, with a laterite forebody and a sandstone doorframe at its entrance. It sits just back from the row of three with its entrance forebody tightly jammed in between the southern brick tower and the central tower. This sandstone forebody of the central tower and the odd fourth tower could well be a later addition. Looking at the style, you could assume the brick towers to be 10/11th century but there is surely much more to know when the site is cleared.

Also, of note is the colossal amount of sandstone blocks, some decorated, that have tumbled down on the eastern side of the gopura indicating it in itself was something perhaps quite special if not at least monumental.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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