Lolei Temple-Siem Reap
Lolei Temple |
Location: Lolei is at
Roluos, north of Bakong. A modern Buddhist temple is located in the
grounds of Lolei near the central towers. Access: Enter and leave the
temple by the stairs at the east.
Tip:
Beware
of the ants during certain seasons near the top of the entrance steps.
Date: End of the ninth century (893) Religion: Transitional between Prah
Ko and Bakheng
BACKGROUND
Although
Lolei is small it is worth a visit for its carvings and inscription.
The temple of Lolei originally formed an island in the middle of a Baray
(3,800 by 800 meters, 12,467 by 2,625 feet), now dry. According to an
inscription found at the temple the water in this pond was for use at
the capital of Hariralaya and for irrigating the plains in the area.
LAYOUT
The
layout consists of two tiers with laterite enclosing walls and stairway
to the upper level in the center of each side. Lions on the landings os
the stairways guard the temple. A sandstone channel in the shape of a
cross situated in the center of the four towers on the upper terrace is
an unusual feature, the channels extend in the cardinal directions from a
square pedestal for a linga. It is speculated the holy water poured
over the linga flowed in the channels.
CENTRAL SANCTUARIES
Four
brick tower with tiered upper portions, arranged in two rows, on the
upper terrace make up the Central Sanctuaries. As the two-north towers
are aligned on the east-west axis, it is possible the original plan had
six towers, which probably shared a common base like that at Prah Ko.
Tip:
The
northeast tower is the best preserved.The entrances of the doors to the
towers are cut from a single block of stone, as at Bakong. The corners
of the towers on the east are decorated with male guardians holding
tridents and those of the west with female divinities holding flywhisks.
They are sculpted in sandstone with a brick casing. The panels of the
false doors have multiple figures. The inscriptions on the doorframes
are exceptionally fine. The workmanship on the lintels is skilled and
the composition balanced. Some noteworthy depictions are: Indra on an
elephant with figures and Makaras spewing serpents (northeast tower);
Visnu riding a Garuda with a branch of serpents (south-east tower).