Banteay Srei
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Citadel of Beauty, Angkor
First created 23 Jan 2012. Version 1.1 - 19 Feb 2012. Jerry Tse. London.
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The causeway (First half)
First half of the Causeway
Gopura is a gate house in Khmer architecture. (Eastern Gopura).
The Outer Gopura
Banteay Srei is by far the prettiest of the Khmer temples. Many call the temple, the ‘Jewel of Khmer Art’.
It is the only temple in Angkor that was not built by a king. It was built by Yajnavaraha, one of King’s counsellors.
The 10C temple (967 AD) was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It largely built of red limestone (laterite).
“This is without any doubt the finest of all the monument at Angkor.” Maurice Glaize. French architect and archaeologist, Conservator of Angkor from 1937 to 1945.
The causeway (First half)
The Pediment of the outer gopura, showing the Hindu god Indra in the centre, riding on a three headed elephant. Indra is the King of gods.
Symbolic body of Naga the Serpent, which is a popular motif of Khmer architecture.
Indra, Hindu’s King of the gods, the Lord of Heaven.
Intricate curly motif decorations appear on many bas-relief in the temple.
Head of Naga.
The Outer GopuraThe causeway (First half)
Naga on the pediment. This naga has five heads (two on the other side). Some has as many as nine heads.
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This pediment of the outer gopura on the temple side, showing Rama and Sita sitting on a bull. Rama is another form of the Hindu god Vishnu (avatar). Banteay Srei is divided along the central east west axis with buildings devoted either to Shiva or Vishnu.
The Outer Gopura
Unusually the causeway was lined by two rows of stone posts. Next to the stone posts were two rows of buildings, which cannot be seen now.
The causeway (First half)
Second half of the Causeway
The causeway (Second half)
At the half way point of the Causeway
Unlike other temples the roofs were supported by timber frames with tiles coverings.
There are a group buildings situated at the halfway point of the causeway.
At the half way point of the Causeway
The causeway (Second half)
Looking toward the entrance at the end of the causeway.
The causeway (End)
Building at end of Causeway, just outside of the Outer Enclosure.
The Third Enclosure (Outer)
The Third (Outer) Enclosure
Entrance to the Third (Outer) Enclosure, where the boys were standing.
The Third (Outer) Enclosure
The Outer Enclosure is occupied by a moat, which symbolises the ocean surrounding Mount Meru, the home of the gods.
The Third (Outer) Enclosure
The Third (Outer) Enclosure
It is unusual to find a moat in an enclosure within the temple. Normally it is the moat that surround the outer enclosure. At the end of the causeway is the entrance to the Outer Enclosure.
The Third (Outer) Enclosure
The moat within the outer enclosure.
The Second Enclosure (Middle)
The Second (Middle) Enclosure
Entrance to the Middle Enclosure
The Second (Middle) Enclosure
The Second (Middle) Enclosure
One of the two buildings at the entrance to the Second Enclosure.
The First Enclosure (Sanctuary)
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
Lord Shiva performing the Cosmic Dance on the gopura of the First Enclosure. He performs the divine dance to destroy a weary universe and prepares it for its re-creation.
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
The wall of the First Enclosure had collapsed merging the two enclosures together. Above is the gopura for the First Enclosure.
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
One of the two libraries in the First Enclosure.
The two libraries are of brick, laterite and sandstone.
According to Maurice Glaize, the library pediments “representing the first appearance of tympanums with scenes, are works of the highest order. Superior in composition to any which followed, they show true craftsmanship in their modelling in a skilful blend of stylisation and realism.”
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
Symbolic body of Naga the serpent.
Indra making rain to put out the forest fire.
Naga king trapped by the fire.
Shooting arrows to block the rain
Panicking animals running away.
Indra creating rain to put out a forest fire started by Agni to kill the naga king. Heroes Krsna and Arjuna are helping Agni by firing a dense hail of arrows to block out the rain. The naga kings’s son is depicted attempting to escape, while frightened animals stampede about in panic.
The east facing pediment of the north library. Details on next slide.
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
Details on the east facing pediment of the north library.
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
The library.
The Sanctuary Prasats
The Libraries
Gopura for the Second Enclosure
Moat of the Outer EnclosureThe First
(Sanctuary) Enclosure
The First (Sanctuary) Enclosure
Central Sanctuary
Central Sanctuary Ganas
The Sanctuary is guarded by Ganas. There are four different types – Monkey, man, tiger and hawk bill.
Central Sanctuary Devas
Devatas are Hindu deities. They have a more focus role. They are equivalent to the guardian angels.
The Central Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is guarded by Ganas, fellowers of Ganesha (Elephant god). They come in different forms – monkey, tiger & hawk bill heads.
Central Sanctuary Ganas
The Sanctuary Prasat
Central Sanctuary Prasat, with gopura on the left and the library on the right (East side).
Central Sanctuary Ganas
The Sanctuary Prasats
Central Sanctuary (north side).
Central Sanctuary Ganas
Central Sanctuary (west side).
The Sanctuary Prasats
The Side Sanctuary Prasat
Blind door
Five stories
Pediment
Devata
Laterite (Red Sandstone)
Ribbon frame of the pediment is a representation of the Naga’s body.
Tympanums – story telling bas relief
The Sanctuary Prasats
Like apsara, celestial dancing maiden, this graceful deveta is the equivalent of guardian angel.
Central Sanctuary
The Sanctuary Prasats
The prasats are not tall but they are covered with ornamented and exquisitely carved relief.
The Sanctuary Prasats (west)
Slide texts
Central Sanctuary
A Tiger face gana on the Sanctuary Prasat.
To save his wife from the Demon King, Rama asked the Monkey King (Sugriva) for help. The Monkey King had to regain his throne by killing his brother (Vali) in a duel. Rama intervene by shooting the brother from the back.
The duel between the Monkey princes.
Rama shooting the monkey’s brother.
Horrified monkey onlookers.
Western gopura
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
The End
Music – Roxane’s Veil performed by Vanessa Mae and composed by Vangelis.
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