Banteay Samre

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Banteay Samre

Date : First half of the 12th Century
Style : Angkor Wat
Region : Suryavarman II Contunue by yasovarman II
Visit  : 45mins


Here's the island seen from the east and showing East Mebon's now-familiar nested tiers, with towers on the highest platform. Except for the towers of the Prasat Kravan, this is the oldest structure we've seen yet. It was built about 950 by Rajendravarman, whose capital, now called Preah Rup, lies due south of here, on the southern shore of the East Baray. The only part of it that survives is its temple-mountain, which looks much like East Mebon but rises higher.

 Inside the first wall, which is visible on the right and so massive that you see why this place was called a banteay, or fortress. In the center and left is the second enclosure, with elaborate pediments. Note the window at the left, with stone spindles.






Banteay Samre
 Present day relative isolation half a km of the East Baray ensures that is receives fewer visitor than most temple at Angkor , so that is completeness thanks to a thorough restoration by Maurice Glaize comes as a surprise. The design of its single ogival tower
Is immerdiately recognizable as that Angkor wat , though to anyone familiar with the  monument of net Thailand , the temple has very much the appearance of a compacted Phimai, There are no inscriptions detailing its foundation, but it seems likely that is was built by a high official of the court of suryavarman II during his reign.
Again, the pediments are profusely decorated. If they look in comparatively good shape, that's because the whole temple was reconstructed by a French archaeologist, Maurice Glaize.
Plan
The main elements of the temple follow a pattern that was consistent for many of the temple built at this time, including Thomanon, Chao Say Tevoda , Phimai and Phnom Rung. It has a single tower over the shrine and this is connect by an antarala to a mandapa. All of this is flanked by two libraries and concerntic galleries surround the ensemble.

There are two galleried enclosures but there are signs that the entire complex was much larger. Like Angkor wat.  Banteay Samre is approached by a long raise causeway leading to a cruciform terrace probably later. The causeway’s length, more than 200m and unfinished to the east , Suggest that Banteay Samre enclosed a reasonably sized town as well as the temple at its heart. To the west and avenue of 350m leads from the East Baray ending in another cruciform terrace. The outer enclosure with its high laterite wall measure 83m x 77m and the inner enclose 44m x 38m Both have gopuras at the cardinal points.
Banteay Samre
This monument that takes its name from the Samre people is found to the east of the earth embankment forming the eastern wall of the East Baray. There is a legend connecting the naming of this monument with a farmer who mistakenly killed the king then ascended the throne.



Lion paw on the causeway to Banteay Samre
           

Anastylosis transformed this monument with its well-preserved exceptional ornamentation. Dated to shortly after Angkor Vat, its compact, well-balanced proportions echo other monuments of the period such as Beng Mealea and Chau Say Tevoda.Viewed from the east, the approach is by a 200 metre causeway paved in laterite and bordered by a naga balustrade in the style of Angkor Vat.

The imposing external laterite enclosure wall must have formed, one of the walls of a tile-covered gallery joining a gopura that would have been far more impressive than the existing projecting entrance with portico.

It is interesting to note that many scenes on the pediments of the upper levels have been identified as episodes from the Vessantara Jataka. The presence of Buddhist scenes in a Hindu temple and the fact that in some places certain sculpted motifs, probably also Buddhist, have been mutilated makes a statement about the religious tolerance of the monument's patron. Few temples present an iconography so complete and in such an excellent state of preservation, and particular attention should be given to the following scenes:

A stone tank, with a hole pierced in the top of it and with a drainage channel in the bottom, has also been restored and placed in the large room adjacent to the central sanctuary. It is considered to be some form of sarcophagus, enabling the procedure of periodic ablution of mortal remains which were placed here.


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