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    Saturday, May 12, 2007

    East Mebon

    Building date: Mid 10th century, 944 – 952
    Religion: Hindu
    Style: Banteay Srei
    King: Rajendravarman II From 944 To 968
    Location: On the small circuit, in the middle of the Eastern Baray.



    East Mebon is the big mountain-like temple ruin, rising 3 levels and crowned by 5 towers. King Jayavarman IV, a usurper of the throne, moved the capital from Angkor to Koh Ker in 928 AD. Sixteen years later, King Rajendravarman II returned the capital to Angkor and shortly afterwards built East Mebon in an island in the center of the today's dry Eastern Baray. The temple is devoted to Shiva and honors the king's parents.


    Inscriptions show that it was also created to help improve the continuity of kingship at Angkor in light of the interruption which happened once the seat of power was moved to Koh Ker. There appears to be some scholarly debate as to whether East Mebon can be classified as a mountain-temple. Inscriptions report activity on the temple around 947AD, yet East Mebon wasn't consecrated till 952AD. Located near the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom and Victory Gate, in the center of a enormous baray of 7 km by 1.8 km.


    The baray, formerly supplied by Lake Tonle Sap, was utilized to nourish the adjoining villages is fully covered nowadays with ground and sand so that you can reach East Mebon by road. But formerly, the sole way of reaching this temple was to cross the baray by boat, which explains the presence of the 4 landing stages located at each cardinal point. East Mebon doesn't have a middle pyramid, and instead has a simple platform.



    It's supposed that they did not want too much to charge this tiny island situated on the medium with such a volume of water. But previously, the sole way of reaching this temple was to cross the baray by boat, which explains the presence of the 4 landing stages located at each cardinal point. That temple mountain doesn't have a central pyramid that was replaced by the simple platform. It's presumed that they did not want to charge this tiny island situated on the middle with such a volume of water.



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