The lovely temple of Mebon, a pyramid of receding terraces
on which are placed many detached edifices, the most effective being the five
towers which crown the top Could any conception be lovelier, a vast expanse of
sky-tinted water as wetting for a perfectly ordered temple.
The East Mebon is 500metre (1,640feet)
north of Pre Rup. A enter and leave the temple from the east entrance. It was
built in the second half of the tenth century (952) by king Rajendravarman II, dedicated
to Siva (Hindu), an ancestor temple in memory of the parents of the king with
following the Pre Rup style art.
BACKGROUND
The Mebon stands on a small island in the middle of the
Eastern Baray, which was a large body of water (2 by 7 kilometres, 1.2by4.3miles)
fed by the Siem Reap River
LAYOUT
The East Mebon is a temple
with five towers arranged like the numbers on a die atop a base with three
tiers. The whole is surrounded by three enclosures. The towers represent the
five peaks of the mythical Mount
Meru
The outer enclosing wall is identified by a terraced landing
built of laterite with two seated lions on each of the four sides. The interior
of this wall is marked by a footpath. The neat enclosing wall is intercepted in
the middle of each of its four sides by an entry tower in the shape. Of a cross
The towers are constructed of laterite and sandstone and have three doors with
porches. An inscription was found to the right of the east tower. A series of
galleries surrounds the interior of this enclosing wall. The walls are of
laterite and have porches, sandstone pillars and rectangular windows with short
balusters. The galleries were originally covered with wood and tiles but today
only vestiges remain. They probably served as halls of meditation.
The stairways of the tiered base are flanked by lions. Beautiful
monolithic elephants stand majestically at the corners of the first and second
tiers. They are depicted naturalistically with fine detail such as harnessing. Tip:
The elephant in the best condition, and the most complete, is in the southwest
corner.
The lintels on the west entry tower depict Visnu in his
avataras of man-lion tearing the king of the demons with his claws (east). At
the northeast corner Laksmi stands between two elephants with raised trunks
sprinkling lustral water on her.
INNER COURTYARD
The large inner courtyard contains eight small brick towers
on each side opening to the East. Each one has octagonal columns and finely
worked lintels with figures amongst leaf decorations. On the East
Side of the courtyard there are three rectangular laterite
buildings without windows opening to the west. The two on the left of the
entrance are decorated with either scenes of the stories of the nine planets or
the seven ascetics. Vestiges of bricks above the cornices suggest they were
vaulted. There are two more buildings (without windows) of similar form at the
northwest and southwest comers of the courtyard.
UPPER TERRACE
The terrace with the five towers was enclosed by a sandstone
wall moulding and decorated bases. Lions guard the four stairways to the top
platform.
CENTRAL SANCTUARIES
The five towers on the upper terrace were built of brick and
open to the east; they have three false doors made of sandstone. Male figures
on the comers are finely modeled. Circular holes pierced in the brick for the
attachment of stucco are visible. The false doors of the towers have fine
decoration with an overall background pattern of interlacing small figures on a
plant motif.
LINTELS ON THE TOWERS OF THE UPPER LEVEL
(East side): Indra on his mount, a three-headed elephant, with
small horsemen on a branch; scrolls with mythical beasts spewing figures under
a small frieze of worshippers; (west side): Skanda, God of War rides his
peacock; (south side): Siva rides his sacred bull Nandi.
East side: Ganesa is curiously riding his trunk which is
transformed into a mount.
