Kamphoeum Temple

Located just south of Krala Peas, Prasat Kamphoeum (or Prasat Kompong) is the remains of a brick temple group. Originally comprised of three brick temples, only the central temple remains standing. It is a square brick temple that opens to the east with false doors formed into the brickwork on its other sides.

On the sandstone doorframe of the eastern door, there is the inscription registered under K. 357 that is believed to date to the 7th century. At first glance, the standing temple looks like it is from the ninth or tenth century, if so, the doorframe may well be recycled from a prior site. That said, above the doors the all-important pediment area is shapeless, the arch of the pediment would have clarified any doubts. There is also a somasutra (water spout) resting nearby, along with the upper section of a linga pedestal, which could well be from the 7th-century era. A lintel was recorded as being in situ at the site and its description also reflects that of the 7th century.

Inscription

• K. 357 – doorjamb – 23 lines of Khmer text – noting workers and offerings to the temple by a woman whose name was illegible but bears the title ge klon (Coedes – IC VI)

Historical Notes

Prasat Kompong. – This monument is located about 4 kilometers from Prasat Khna. It is, on a rectangular mound surrounded by its basin-ditch, a simple brick sanctuary, square, open to the E., with false doors on its other faces; it is still quite well preserved; however, the debris from the upper tiers begins to mask the facades. The door, to the E., has a sandstone surround and a decorative lintel of type I, supported by round banded columns, which, as we have said, is the rule. In the central medallion, Vişņu on Garuda is depicted; in the side medallions, there are figures of characters riding lions. The fantastic animals erected on the capitals of the columns are here rising lions with parrot heads; on its rump, each of them bears a seated figure, holding a sabre. Forming a frieze along the upper edge, we still find in the center, an elephant represented frontally, sitting on its hindquarters, its front feet raised, its trunk falling in front of it, then, to the right and left, in positions symmetrical, lions with parrot heads, goose heads, whose beak ends in a trunk; then again new lions with parrot heads.

Inscription of Prasat Kompong. An inscription of which we can still distinguish 23 fairly well-preserved lines is engraved on the left upright. It dates, according to Mr. Aymonier, from the seventh century and relates donations made to the temple.

Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, E. Lajonquiere, 1902

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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