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Lolei - The Island Temple

Lolei (Khmer) is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group of three late 9th century Hindu temples at Angkor, Cambodia, the others members of which are Preah Ko and the Bakong. Lolei was the last of the three temples to be built as part of the city of Hariharalaya that once flourished at Roluos, and in 893 the Khmer king Yasovarman I dedicated it to Shiva and to members of the royal family.

 

The name "Lolei" is thought to be a modern corruption of the ancient name "Hariharalaya," which means "the city of Harihara." Once an island temple, Lolei was located on an island slightly north of centre in the now dry Indratataka baray, construction of which had nearly been completed under Yasovarman's father and predecessor Indravarman I.

 

Scholars believe that placing the temple on an island in the middle of a body of water served to identify it symbolically with Mount Meru, home of the gods, which in Hindu mythology is surrounded by the world oceans.

 

Lolei consists of four brick temple towers grouped together on a terrace. Originally, the towers were enclosed by an outer wall access through which was through a gopura, but neither wall nor gopura have survived to the present. Today, the temple is next to a monastery, just as in the 9th century it was next to an ashrama.

 

The temple towers are known for their decorative elements, including their false doors, their carved lintels, and their carved devatas and dvarapalas who flank both real and false doors. Some of the motifs represented in the lintels and other sandstone carvings are the sky-god Indra mounted on the elephant Airavata, serpent-like monsters called makaras, and multi-headed nagas.

 

 

Text from :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENTS
Moabjeeper said at 2:28 p.m. on Apr 9, 2009:
Nice photos of your series of temples. I hope you have'nt exhausted sits.
Candlepower said at 2:54 p.m. on Apr 9, 2009:
Wonderful stone art work. Great Tabblo!
Hhwind said at 8:12 p.m. on Apr 9, 2009:
Nice shots, love these old temples with such intricate bas reliefs
Swedfinn said at 9:07 p.m. on Apr 9, 2009:
What a treasure, all those beautiful temples you have! Have You any idea how many they are in your country?
Debdog said at 1:37 a.m. on Apr 10, 2009:
i love this series, places i will never see :)
Wildthing said at 5:10 a.m. on Apr 10, 2009:
Terrific building with intricate carving, David. It's such a shame that the passing of time and the weather is rclaiming them to nature.
Pattymaryclare said at 11:25 a.m. on Apr 10, 2009:
This is a marvel of architecture and art David...THANKS FOR SHARING! LUV Patty xo
Karsten said at 7:11 p.m. on Apr 10, 2009:
David - another great site in this serie of temple documentacion! Impresiv the similitud of the reliefs in this one with the last one! Thnaks for sharing!
Almere2010 said at 3:55 a.m. on Apr 11, 2009:
Beautiful pictures!!
Chaitiamma said at 8:01 a.m. on Apr 11, 2009:
Thank you Bob, Pat and Teo.

Thanks Jorma, but these are not temples in my country, they are part of the temples complex in Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Thank you Debra, Mike, Patty, Karsten and Arne for viewing.
Noe said at 4:38 p.m. on Apr 11, 2009:
Impressive architecture... fantastic shots!
Chaitiamma said at 10:43 a.m. on Apr 12, 2009:
Thank you Noe.
HtD said at 3:29 p.m. on Apr 18, 2009:
Beautiful photo's. A special place for vacation.
Chaitiamma said at 1:03 a.m. on Apr 19, 2009:
Thank you Henk.
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