Andet Temple (Kampong Thom)

Prasat Andet, also recorded as Prasat Andaet, is an ancient 7th-century brick temple located on the grounds of a contemporary monastery and pagoda atop a large and high mound which is then surrounded by a moat. Several statues from here including a Harihara statue can be found at the Phnom Penh National Museum. This uniquely styled statue would lend early French researchers to create a new category in their chronology of art styles named after the temple.

The site, surrounded by trees, with its moat and colorful pagoda all make for a tranquil setting. At the time of writing (2022) the monks were putting some effort into new features on the monastery grounds outside the moated area. On a later visit in late 2023, they have added a retaining wall around the inside of the moat and are still working on a sculpture in the middle of the forecourt.

The ancient temple itself belongs to the 7th century featuring beautifully decorated round door columns atop which is a partly broken lintel that is unfortunately covered by a supporting framework. The temple is a little longer than it is wide and inside you’ll note the ancient pedestals underneath the present-day deities and objects. The temple opens to the east, with false doors with pilasters formed in brickwork on the other sides also noting the blank embossed areas on either side, perhaps never receiving the final carving, or perhaps the decorative work was rendered in stucco which has long gone.

Historical Images

Via EFEO more

Historical Notes

This building, which dominates the entire plain in the distance, rises on a terrace oriented E.-W. with a slight deviation towards the North (7 to 8°). It is raised about ten meters over the surrounding countryside and appears to have been obtained with the soil from the basins which surround it on all sides except to the east. In front, an esplanade of the same width, slightly raised, and preceded in turn by an extension at the level of the plain. In front of the terrace and on its anterior slope, alongside the necessary staircase are the lower parts of two figures which appear human and which could be squatting dvarapala in the Javanese fashion. Next to it is a fragment which appears to come from a Nandin.

The sanctuary itself, in a remarkable state of conservation, unfortunately remained in disrepair. Inside, the rectangular room is very elongated; it is covered by a vault with successive heels in three stages and terminated by a narrow hopper. Two hooks on the small faces, three on the large ones, held the ceiling. The door is released by a recess corresponding to the recess of the leaves and covered by a relief vault terminated by a thin lintel.

Externally the building consists of a body, two floors, and the terminal vault. The lower mass, rectangular and toothed, has a door and false doors. A pilaster occupies each corner; in the interpiaster, a projecting table no doubt awaits a reduction of the building. The building rises on an uncomplicated base cut by the steps of the real or false doors. The simple base does not have its outlet set on the inside; it presents spreads that correspond to sconces. Almost nothing remains of the cornice.

The door offers an elegant type II lintel and finely chiseled circular columns; the capitals taken from the lintel show interesting sconces. The more complete false doors are quite abnormal. The columns are missing, the lintel seems replaced by a strangely cut face which may be a very summary paneling. The large slab which goes from one pilaster to the other supports only a very low arch; it is further diminished by a large base in front of which stands a heavy wall lamp. The rear body had to carry an arch building on the previous arch. We therefore see that we are in the presence of an unclear variant of the complete type.

The floors which overlap, show approximately the same plan and the same motifs from one to the other, they are reduced very little. The base is decorated with caps and the interpilasters with smaller tables. The ending seems to have consisted of a vault with two gables.

The site contained various interesting pieces. The main one is an admirable standing statue of Harihara, almost human in size (see fig. 87). This statue shows a most remarkable finish and anatomical observation. It entered, and without difficulty, by us, the Phnom Penh Museum under the mark 68, 2 and passed to the Albert Sarraut Museum.

Several other statues accompany it, of less interest; we still find in this sanctuary an ablution bowl, with internal flow, whose spout is broken, as well as the raised slab which received it on the pedestal; unlike the usual, this piece is decorated on the edge with a very elegant and characteristic pattern (see fig. 71). Finally, in the courtyard of the pagoda there is a crowning stone, perhaps a pole holder, whose place in such a building is difficult to determine (fig. 55).

L’Art Khmer Primitif, 1927, Henri Parmentier.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via rod@helloangkor.com - more..