Mebon Temple (Preah Thkol)

Located at the center of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay’s baray (reservoir), it’s a man-made island that supports one of the wonders of the ancient Khmer empire. The baray on which it is centered is staggering in itself, measuring some 2.7km long and 700m wide that has dried out in parts to become farmland with its northern side retaining water and known in contemporary times as Preah Dac Baray.

The Mebon (island) itself measures roughly around 250 m x 170 m occupied at the center by Prah Thkol, a temple with a laterite outer enclosure roughly 45 m x 52 m with four gopura (entrance), enclosing a grand central shrine and two small shrines commonly seen at most sites and held to be libraries. Surrounding this enclosure are four small ponds at each cardinal point.

The highlight, and most stunning feature of the site is grand architectural composition featuring on each corner between the vestibules of the central shrine. It begins with a row of human figures leaning on clubs above which are three elephants, a bouquet of lotuses in the trunk, accompanied, on the right and on the left, by two figures of devata, above which are enormous Garuda (mythical bird) whose claws clutch onto a Kala (a monster like face, representing time personified) flanked by Naga (mythical serpent), above the grand Garuda, a row of Hamsa (sacred geese).

If you look above the doors of the temple to the upper registers and in particular the remains of the pediments, you can see some decayed relief carvings one featuring “flying Apsara”, and worshipers flaking a central idol seated on a pedestals and and hooded by a Naga. You can still see many lintels above the doors, some with five niches with inset worshipers and idols, some lost to time. Also noting the decorated door jambs typical of temples of the era, some of the medallions featuring the lotus embelem of the era, some with personages and wildlife, while the doorjambs of the central shrine are seemingly unique.

Layout

Preah Thkol has an elongated layout with a laterite enclosure wall featuring four gopura (entrance pavilions) with those on east and west being much larger and lesser gopura on the north and south.

Inside the enclosure, the main crucuform shaped tower dominates, and on its eastern side are two “library” buildings that open to the west.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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