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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 '
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