Phnom Bakheng, ca. 900, built by Yashovarman I, called Vnam Kantal or "Central Mountain" temple in inscriptions, as well as Yashodharagiri (the mountain temple of the city of Yashodhara). The central image was called Yashodhareshvara.

Description

Sandstone, 5 square terraces, 12 small prasat or towers on each terrace (60 in all), 44 larger towers around the base of the temple, a central tower, and 4 corner towers on the upper level. Two libraries flank the eastern axial entrance to the temple.

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The temple is on top of a hill 65 m. high, with staircases on the north, east, and west sides of the hill but none on the south (planned but not executed). The stairways had entrance gateways in front of them. Leading outward from each of these staircases were long elevated roads that went as far as the border of the city - more than a mile away. These roads actually continued past the city limits on the east and west, and probably on the north and south as well. The base of the hill itself was surrounded by a moat and a levee, 440 x 650 m. along its axes. A shaft underneath the central sanctuary contained a stone casket-like box (1.5 m. down). There was a hole on the short side of this "casket" - of a type which may actually have been used to house a flexed corpse until the time of cremation. In this instance, there was the decayed debris of a wooden box inside, with some remains of iron work left. Inside were chains, hinges, handles, and 4 Buddhas in gold, 3 whole Buddhas in silver, and the remains of 2-3 other silver Buddha images. A standing Buddha measuring 1 m. high with its pedestal was also found. It was originally faced with gold. The sanctuary was therefore rededicated - perhaps at the end of the 12th century - to a Buddhist deity.

The remains of the earthen levee around the original city indicate that the Bakheng was once at the center of the largest enclosed site at Angkor. Although plans often show a moat around the city, there is really no evidence that the moat was ever completed, or that it was contemporaneous with the temple.

Bakheng sculptural style

The apsarases and other female statues at this time have completely pleated skirts (large pleats), short torsos, straight shoulders, and hips that are sharply angled. Faces have eyebrows that jut across in nearly a straight line - and generally, the Bakheng style of sculpture has very "hard" features, compared to the naturalism of pre-Angkorian statues.