Thommanon Temple

Thommanon Temple is a small but very ornate temple featuring beautiful bas-relief pediments located east of the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom and north of Chau Say Tevoda.  Although no foundation inscription was found, it is dated by art style to the late 11th or early 12th century and generally attributed to the reign of Suryavarman II (reign 1113–1150 AD).

History

Dating the site by art alone is often tricky and as it is seemingly the case here with some wanting to attribute the site to the era of Jayavarman VI (reign 1080–1113 AD) while others suggest it to be a little later and under the reign of Suryavarman II (reign 1113–1150 AD) coinciding with Angkor Wat and Beng Mealea. The site is also very similar in layout to the style of shrine early French researchers would label “Temples d’étape” which Suryavarman II constructed along the Royal Roads linking Angkor to Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay.

The site was first cleared by the French conservator of Angkor at the time, Henri Marchal in 1919 – 1920 and later restored by anastylosis (a technique that Marchal himself brought to Angkor and still used today) between 1925 and 1927. The west gopura was restored by B.P. Groslier between 1961 and 1966.

Layout

The site, orientated to the east, featured a walled enclosure with a large gopura (entrance pavilion) on its eastern side and a lesser gopura on its western side. Inside the enclosure is a grand central sanctuary, cruciform shaped with a mandapa (hall) providing an entrance to the east which joins directly to the east gopura. The other cardinal points of the sanctuary also have entrance and entrance chambers which are in turn blocked by ornate false doors that are flanked by decorated door columns and a generic lintel.

Inside the central sanctuary, a statue of the Buddha rests upon the original linga pedestal, also, take note of the beautiful lintel above the preceding doorway.

Immediately to the southeast of the sanctuary is a rectangular building, that opens to the west and a common type of building referred to as libraries.

The highlights of the temple are its ornate detail and high quality of craftsmanship as was typical of the era. If you start to geek out on all the decoration and art, you’ll find yourself here for some time, perhaps even wanting to return. You’ll also find a lot of similarities between here and Angkor Wat.

The highlights include the female devata seen on the outer walls of the sanctuary, the pilasters, and most of all the incredible reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology within the site’s pediments.

Historical Images – property of EFEO, more at Fonds Cambodge