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ArchitecturePreah Aram Rong Chen
Preah Aram Rong Chen is the temple constructed during the reign of King Jayavarman II for enshrining the royal Śivalinga in accordance to the Devarājā Cult. The temple, not lost, was erected on the top of the laterite pyramidal bases, connectible to Mount Kailaśa, Śiva’s abode. Thereafter, the temple on the temple on the stepped pyramidal bases would become the normal tradition for the royal temple in accordance with Devarājā cult.
ArchitecturePrasat Damrei Krap
Hoa Lai style of Cham architecture is characterized by the pilasters which are normally arranged in the series of four and the band decoration in the center of these pilasters. These characters are similar to Hoa Lai style in Vietnam. The Garuda decorating the capital is also reminiscent of the same pattern at Hoa Lai. However, this temple is unfinished because the band at the center of the pilasters is devoid of any motifs.
ArchitecturePrasat Bakong
Prasat Bakong comprises the sole main tower on the top of the stepped pyramidal base surrounded by the series of small temples. In the front, there are the gateways leading towards the staircases. The base is surrounded by series of the bigger brick temples which located on the ground and scattered in several directions (not visible in the photo). Prasat Bakong is the example of the earliest stepped pyramidal based temple as the temple is without the complexity and the base supports only one temple on the top. The complexity of the temple would be increased in the later period.
ArchitectureSubsidiary Towers of Prasat Bakong
The subsidiary temples of Prasat Bakong are made of brick and decorated with stucco. These temples scatter in every directions of Prasat Bakong. There are eight in number. ( 2 temples in each direction as being seen in the photo)
ArchitectureMain Tower; Prasat Bakong
While the subsidiary temples are made of brick, the main tower is surprisingly constructed of sandstone and decorated with the later-period Angkor Wat-styled motif. This differs from the normal date of Prasat Bakong which is assigned to Prah Ko style. Possibly, the main tower was constructed later during the period of Angkor Wat for replacing the original brick temple which is possible to be dilapidated during that period. The characters of Angkor Wat style of temple are the redent body and the decoration of Apsara (female deities) at the corner of the temple as well as the decoration of the antefixes at the superstructure.
ArchitecturePrasat Trapang Pong
The temple is made of brick and decorated with stucco, typical to Preah Ko style. The body is decorated with the images of female deities which are similar to the pattern at Prasat Preah Ko and Prasat Lolei . The lintel and the colonnette are however made of stone. The lintel is dominated with the Kala face disgorging the garlands ended with Makaras, testifying the Javanese connection. The superstructure composes of the miniature multi-tiered roofs indicating South Indian connection whereas the central portion of the temple is articulated with the multi-angled pattern which is similar to those in Pre-Angkorian period. The combination of the styles is expected in this period as Preah Ko period is the transition between the Pre-Angkorian and Angkorian art.
ArchitecturePrasat Lolei
Prasat Lolei comprises four brick temples decorated with stucco. The temples rest on the flat platform similar to Prasat Preah Ko which is also the temple that dedicated to the royal ancestors. The architectural elements are similar to Prasat Trapangpong and Prasat Bakong . The stone lintel, the stone false doors and the figures of the deities decorated at the body are of the same pattern
ArchitecturePrasat Bakhaeng
Bakaeng is the temple on the top of stepped pyramidal platforms. As the platforms rest on the living rock of the hill, the base becomes strong enough to support the numerous temples built with stone, different form the case at Bakong. The top platform supports 5 towers surround by some 60 miniature towers scattering around the five steps of platforms. Every temple enshrines Linga and faces eastwards. The total number of the towers including the ground-leveled ones are 108 in number, the auspicious number in Hindusim
