Prasat Wat Athvear

Also recorded as Athvea, or Prasat Wat Athvear, it is a 12th-century ancient temple with an active Buddhist pagoda and monastery adjacent to the walled ancient structure. Originally a Hindu temple, the ancient temple’s design, and the distinctive style of its devata/Apsara (sacred female images), indicate that it was originally built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (circa 1115-1150 AD), who also built Angkor Wat. It’s important to note this site also opens to the west, as does Angkor Wat, while the majority of ancient Khmer temples open to the east.

While most will arrive at the site from the east, the remains of the ancient site begin with a large raised cruciform terrace located 100m to the west of the main enclosure, then the remains of a gopura (entrance gate), and then the walled enclosure of the sanctuary.

Entering this from the western side, you pass through an entry gopura to see four satellite buildings surrounding the central sanctuary. The central sanctuary is joined to the entry gopura via a raised sandstone terrace joining to a mandapa (hall) that then joins with the central shrine. Inside the central sanctuary, you can see the remaining bas-reliefs of Apsaras and inscriptions on the internal columns.

Post-Angkorian era activity

Wat Athvea was also an important site in the post-Angkorian era of the 15th-19th century (or early modern period, 13th century to 19th century, by some definitions). In particular, the site received five inscriptions registered under K. 261. Following Aymoniers’ recording and Coedes’ translations, Saverous Pou would unlock key dates and key insights.

The first inscription reveals a date of 1611 AD noting the gathering of nobility and bhikkhus; constructing a statue of Buddha sheltered by Naga and the liberation of a worker. Moreover, there is an insightful passage cursing anyone who should affect this persons liberation noting “May he go to be reborn each time in the pancanantarik, instead of being reborn as Indra, Brahma, a devata or a human being!“. Pancanantarik referring to hell, where the five major crimes are punished.

The second, describing the meditation of anak samtec brah Jetthaghosa; his meritorious acts; and wishes in an insightful Buddhist verse.

The third, noting the liberation of workers by Jetthagosa, a list of witnesses, curses similar as those seen earlier for those who should deny their liberation, and donations by two ladies.

The fourth, dated to 1639 AD, nothing another liberation of a worker, noting the witnesses, and similar curses.

The fifth, noting sangharaja Udayapanna, reasserting the meritorious acts of Jettaghosa, restoration of Buddha statues, construction of a caitya, production of the 100 Buddha statues in gold, silver, lead, and wood.

Separate inscriptions, registered under K. 792 and K.794 are “modern” inscriptions of the late 19th century or later. They note the donations of rice fields to the monastery, with curses for those who would use the land for their own benefit.

Visiting Wat Athvear

It is located 5km south of Siem Reap city towards Phnom Krom and the Tonle Sap. You can reach the site by bike, car, or tuk-tuk.

Angkor Pass is required and the site opens from 7.30 am – 5.30 pm.

Gallery

Inscriptions

Inscriptions at the site date to the post-Angkorian era in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

• K. 261 – internal pillars – 27 lines of Khmer – Pou 1977; Coedes 1966 (?)
• K. 792 & 793 – records note there being translations by Finot, and there is a series of rubbings here which would appear to be K. 261
• K. 794 – single lines across a series of blocks, labelled as “graffiti”

References and further reading

• Pou-Lewitz. VI. Inscriptions en khmer moyen de Vat Athvea (K. 261). In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 64, 1977. pp. 151-166.

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..