Takeo, ca. 1000, begun by King Jayavarman V (r. 968-1001) and completed by King Udayadityavarman (r. 1001-1002) or King Jayaviravarman (r. 1002- ca. 1011).

Description

Takeo is located just to the east of the great Eastern Reservoir, between the reservoir and the moat around the city of Angkor Thom. Both the moat and the reservoir severely restrict the area for the "capital" around the temple. Takeo has three large terraces that support 4 corner temple-towers around a central tower. There is a surrounding, vaulted corridor on the second terrace (80 x 84 m.) that seems to be an architectural advancement over the elongated structures running alongside the enclosing walls of most other, earlier temples. From now on, vaulted corridors would become a characteristic of temple construction.

The top terrace of Takeo is 40 m. on a side and the central sanctuary is 25 m. above ground level, one indication of the enormous scale of this monument. Takeo is so high up that a breeze continually sweeps through the central sanctuary, abetted by the fact that there are 4 open doorways here. The sandstone blocks of Takeo are massive, and far outweigh those of other temples at Angkor. More than any other structure in this region, Takeo gives the impression of power, strength, and invulnerability.

The vaulted gallery around Takeo encloses two libraries on the east, and two long structures near the front wall. Whereas the top terrace is 12 m. high, this terrace rises 5 m., and the one below is 2 m. high. The lower terrace measures 96 x 112 m., it has a gateway on the east and west, and two long, narrow halls on the east. None of the carved bas-reliefs at Takeo are finished. And one of the most unusual features of the temple is the fact that its upper towers, starting from just above the first layers of the base, are constructed of the hardest sandstone known in Cambodia. Because this sandstone was so difficult to cut, there is almost no relief carving on the towers and their blocks are especially massive.

History

Jayaviravarman (r. 1002-1011) was a usurper who was defeated by King Suryavarman I (r. 1011-1050) in battles that lasted throughout his short, 9-year reign. While Jayaviravarman controlled the Angkor region, Suryavarman controlled the region to the east of Angkor. Since the top towers and other parts of Takeo are constructed out of a particularly granite-like sandstone - harder than ordinary iron - called grauwacke, instead of the usual arkose sandstone, it has been postulated that access to the arkose quarries of Kulen was denied Jayaviravarman. In other words, Suryavarman controlled the quarries, forcing Jayaviravarman to look for building blocks elsewhere - and thus the different sandstone. This is only a theory, however, and may not have been the reason for the two types of sandstone here.

After he came to power in 1011, King Suryavarman I gave the temple of Takeo to the Brahman priest Yogishvara Pandita. This priest had also served Jayaviravarman. The name of the central image of Takeo has never been clearly recorded. If Jayaviravarman consecrated a statue or Shiva lingam there, it should have born his name - and no such name has been found in inscriptions. It is quite possible then, that a main image related to the king was never consecrated - explaining why the temple could be turned over to Yogishvara Pandita by King Suryavarman I.