Located in Svay Leu on the farming plains below Kulen Mountain, Prasat Ta Iem (on Google Maps as Prasat Ta Tiep and other notes as Sre Yem) features an outer moat, laterite walled enclosure with an entrance on the east leading to a single brick tower.
The site’s central tower has collapsed mostly but remains standing in part at the rear, and, it’s something quite fascinating. Originally, looking at old photos, it was quite tall with several “levels” albeit overtaken by a tree and its root structure. The brickwork on the rear side is amazingly preserved, retaining its definition in its edges and incredibly, in some parts its paint or polychrome finish. The remnants of the painted finish are quite smooth to touch and maybe there is a white layer underneath that brown color. But why brown? Perhaps there was another finish atop this and perhaps it’s not ancient at all and was painted for some reason during preservation works that saw the removal of a tree that had overtaken the tower.
The site is also recorded as Srae Yem and Sre Yem, and its earliest site report was published in 1973, by Bruno and Dagens, a translation and images follow
This monument located about 1500 meters south-west of Ta Siem has a sanctuary oven enclosed in a laterite enclosure, opening to the east by a laterite entrance pavilion also this building has collapsed and the only lintel apparent is illegible. The brick sanctuary tower, on the other hand, is quite remarkably well preserved, but it is surrounded by an enormous ficus which hides its upper parts (photo 55). It is a square building which had at least three false floors. The entrance is on the east; on the other three sides false brick doors are surmounted by lintels and framed by small brick columns also without any decoration. The theme of the lintel of the east door (photo 56) gave its name to the site (“the rice field of Yama”); in fact, we see Yama or one of his henchmen precipitating a damned man into hell; this theme is abundantly illustrated on the bas-reliefs of the gallery of heaven and hell at Angkor Wat, but it is likely that the lintel we have here predates this last monument and dates from the so-called Bapton period : finally, we note the presence between Yama’s legs of a small kneeling figure with an ill-defined role. This lintel is surmounted by an unsculpted brick pediment except on its lower course, in sandstone, which bears a remarkable decorative band with an unusual treatment (photo 56).
Les Sites Archeologiques de la region Bhnam Gulen, Boulbert and Dagens 1973
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Site Info
- Site Name: Ta Iem (Pr.) Khmer Name: បា្រសាទតាអៀម
- Reference ID: HA12962 | Last Update: December 16th, 2021
- Other Names: Srae Yem, Prasad Sre Yem
- Tags/Group: b, Kulen, pr, Temples
- Location: Siem Reap Province > Svay Leu District > Ta Siem Commune > Rahal / Ta Siem Village
- MoCFA ID: 1937
- IK Number: 227.12
