Angkor Cambodia
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The Roluos Group of Monuments
Three
temples Bakong, Lolei and Prah Ko 11 Kilometers
(6.8 miles) southeast of the Siem Reap Market,
comprise the Roluos group of monuments (see map
below) they are close together and extend over
an area of three kilometers ( 1.9 miles ) east
of the Great Lake.
The Roluos group, dating from the late ninth
century, is the earliest site of the 600 years
Angkor Period that is open to visitors. The
three temples belonging to this important group
have similar characteristics of architecture,
decoration, materials and construction methods,
which combine to reveal the beginning of the
Classic Period'of Khmer art.
Background
Roluos is the site of an ancient center of Khmer
civilization known as Hariharalaya (the abode of
Hari-hara'). Some 70 years after Jayavarman II
established his capital on Mount Kulen in 802
inaugurating the Angkor Period, the king moved
the king moved the capital to Hariharalaya,
Perhaps for a better source of food or for
defence purposed. He died at roluos in 850. It
is generally believed that his successors
remained there until the capital was moved to
Bakheng in 905.
Architecture
The buildings of the Roluos Group are
distinguished by tall square-shaped brick towers
on pedestals. The open to the east, with false
doors on the other three sides. As is typical of
this period, brick was used for the towers and
sandstone for carved areas such as columns,
lintels and decorative niches.
A
wall originally enclosed the temples though only
traces remain today. It was intersected on two
or more sides by an entry tower, an innovation
of this period, of perhaps slightly earlier. The
early examples were square with a tiered upper
portion. The library also made also appearance
at Roluos. It is a rectangular building with a
curved roof and pediments. A temple often has
two libraries, one on each side of the entry
tower preceding the Central Sanctuary.
Decoration
The characteristic decorative features of the
Roluos group are: a Kala (monster head), the
Hindu god Visnu on his mount the Garuda, female
figures with abundant jewelry, and a
preponderance of guardians and Apsaras. Columns
are generally octagonal and intricately adorned
with delicate leaves. Decoration on the lintels
at Roluos is, according to some art historians,
' the most beautiful of all Khmer art '
