Banteay Srei, Angkor, Cambodia

Banteay Srei

All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use.

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 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.


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 Outer Enclosure is occupied by a moat, which symbolises the ocean surrounding Mount Meru, the home of the gods.



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 moat within the outer enclosure.

The Second Enclosure (Middle)

The Second (Middle) Enclosure

Entrance to the Middle Enclosure



One of the two buildings at the entrance to the Second Enclosure.

The First Enclosure (Sanctuary)

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 wall of the First Enclosure had collapsed merging the two enclosures together. Above is the gopura for the First 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.”


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.


Details on the east facing pediment of the north library.


The library.

The Sanctuary Prasats

The Libraries

Gopura for the Second Enclosure

Moat of the Outer EnclosureThe 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.


The Sanctuary Prasat

Central Sanctuary Prasat, with gopura on the left and the library on the right (East side).



Central Sanctuary (north side).


Central Sanctuary (west side).


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


Like apsara, celestial dancing maiden, this graceful deveta is the equivalent of guardian angel.

Central Sanctuary


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

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The End

Music – Roxane’s Veil performed by Vanessa Mae and composed by Vangelis.

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Banteay Srei, Angkor, Cambodia