Cambodia web journal

Beth and Michael in siem reap, march 2007

Text about the temples copied from the APSARA website (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap) if you want to know more...

From there, we went to Ta Keo. Ta Keo is a pyramid of five levels reaching a total height of 22m - the first two form the base of two enclosing courtyards, one surrounded by a simple wall and the other by a gallery, while the last three, through proportional reduction are a massive artificial plinth for the quincunx of sanctuaries.

This is the first realisation in sandstone of such a structure (generally dedicated to deified nobility) after the temple of Bakheng that crowned a natural hill serving as its core. Ta Keo is constructed with much more care in the systematic cutting and placing of enormous blocks of stone, the arrangement of which can be viewed easily, due to the absence of almost any moulding or decoration.

The reason for this temple remaining unfinished is unknown for it was abandoned soon after the start of its ornamentation. By these remaining fragments, this temple dates to the end of 10th century and the early years of the 11th. Inscriptions engraved on the door jambs of the eastern gopuras, relating to donations made to the temple (but not to its foundation) date from 1007.

Ta Keo: a 5 step pyramid	Ta Keo: outer level with steps	Ta Keo: Climbing at your own rist... they mean it!
Ta Keo: steps through the doorway	Ta Keo: termites nest in the doorway	Ta Keo: Khmer inscriptions in the doorway
Ta Keo: Beth on the steps	Ta Keo: more termites	Ta Keo: the steep stairway to the top level
Ta Keo: carving detail, many headed serpent (Naga)	Ta Keo: Beth and michael in a window	Ta Keo: A pile of rocks which seem to be built by children playing in the ruin
Ta Keo: Beth and Michael on the steps	Ta Keo: the structure was never finished with decorative carvings	Ta Keo: looking down at the entryway
Ta Keo: the tower on top	Ta Keo: A seedling growing out of a crack in the stones	Ta Keo: From this perspective you can see how steep the steps are.
Ta Keo: looking out a window on the top tower	Ta Keo: shrine in the top tower	Ta Keo: steps up to the final tower
Ta Keo: looking down the stairs (don't look down)	Ta Keo: the steps or terraces of the pyramid

Right accross the street is a small temple built as part of a hospital by Jayavaman VII

Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: visible throuh the remok	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: wide view	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: moss covered carvings
Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: Yani/linga pair reconstruction? (I think that;s a bit of a Naga, but it's clearly serving the purpose)	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: statues on the corner	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: foraging termites
Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: statue, detail	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: pedestal in tower, with remains of base of statue	Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: remains of base of statue
Jayavaman VII Hospital Chapel: headless carvings	Ta Keo: looking back from the road

From there we drove to the victory gate of Angkor Thom a walled city.

unnamed ruin covered in tree roots	The tree completely surrounds the stone	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: Beth in the remok
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: view of the approach from the remock	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: seven headed serpent (nagar)	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: the faces over the gate
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: statue of figure pulling on the sanke to churn the sea of milk (creation myth)	Victory Gate Ankor Thom a small bus going through the gate	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: more of the churning statues
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: statue detail with 3 faces	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: tree perched on top of the wall	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: remok coming through the gate
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: the last of the statues has the tail of the snake	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: elephants as columns	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: looking up at the head over the gate
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: Beth inside the gate as a bus goes by.	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: looking up inside the gate	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: another view of elephant columns
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: from on top of the wall looking at the face through the trees growing on the wall	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: Beth and Michael with the trees on top of the wall	Victory Gate Ankor Thom Beth and the guide looking at the carvings from behind the tree
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: carving detail on top of the wall in front of the giant head	Victory Gate Ankor Thom from the top of the gate looking down at the snake pulling	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: Beth walking down from the top of the wall
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: big head with multi head snake below	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: close uo of multi-head snake	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: big head
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: carvings detail	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: carvings detail	Victory Gate Ankor Thom Other side of wall, big face through the trees
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: looking down to the east	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: from the path on top of the wall	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: sweeping leaves off the dirt
Victory Gate Ankor Thom: another perspective on the elephant columns	Victory Gate Ankor Thom: truck driving through gate	Leaving angkor thom, look at all the tour busses