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BACKGROUND
The Mebon stands on a small island in the middle of the Eastern Baray,
which was a large body of water (2 by 7 kilometres, 1.2by4.3miles) fed by the
Siem Reap River. The temple was accessible only by boat. Today the baray, once a
source of water for irrigation, is a plain of rice fields and the visitor is
left to imagine the original majesty of this temple in the middle of a large
lake.
LAYOUT
The
East Mebon is a temple with five towers arranged like the numbers on a die atop
a base with three tiers. The whole is surrounded by three enclosures. The towers
represent the five peaks of the mythical Mount Meru.
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The outer enclosing wall (1) is identified by a
terraced landing built of laterite with two seated lions on each of the four
sides (2). The interior of this wall is marked by a footpath. The neat enclosing
wall (3) is intercepted in the middle of each of its four sides by an entry
tower in the shape. Of a cross (4) The towers are constructed of laterite and
sandstone and have three doors with porches. An inscription was found to the
right of the east tower. A series of galleries surrounds the interior of this
enclosing wall (5) . The walls are of laterite and have porches, sandstone
pillars and rectangular windows with short balusters. The galleries were
originally covered with wood and tiles but today only vestiges remain. They
probably served as halls of meditation.
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The stairways of the tiered base are flanked by lions
(6). Beautiful monolithic elephants stand majestically at the corners of the
first and second tiers (7). They are depicted naturalistically with fine detail
such as harnessing. Tip: The elephant in the best condition, and the most
complete, is in the southwest corner.
ENTRY TOWERS
The lintels on the west entry tower (4) depict Visnu in his avataras of
man-lion tearing the king of the demons with his claws (east). At the northeast
corner Laksmi stands between two elephants with raised trunks sprinkling lustral
water on her.
INNER COURTYARD
The large inner courtyard contains eight small brick towers (8)-two on
each side opening to the East. Each one has octagonal columns and finely worked
lintels with figures amongst leaf decorations. On the East Side of the courtyard
there are three rectangular laterite buildings (9) without windows opening to
the west. The two on the left of the entrance are decorated with either scenes
of the stories of the nine planets or the seven ascetics. Vestiges of bricks
above the cornices suggest they were vaulted. There are two more buildings
(without windows) of similar form at the northwest and southwest (9) comers of
the courtyard.
UPPER TERRACE
The terrace with the five towers was enclosed by a sandstone wall
moulding and decorated bases (10). Lions guard the four stairways to the top
platform.
CENTRAL SANCTUARIES
The five towers on the upper terrace were built of brick and open to the
east; they have three false doors made of sandstone (11 and 12). Male figures on
the comers are finely modeled. Circular holes pierced in the brick for the
attachment of stucco are visible. The false doors of the towers have fine
decoration with an overall background pattern of interlacing small figures on a
plant motif.
LINTELS ON THE TOWERS OF THE UPPER LEVEL
CENTRAL TOWER
(East
side): Indra on his mount, a three-headed elephant, with small horsemen on a
branch; scrolls with mythical beasts spewing figures under a small frieze of
worshippers; (west side): Skanda, God of War rides his peacock; (south side):
Siva rides his sacred bull Nandi.
NORTHWEST
CORNER TOWER
(East
side): Ganesa is curiously riding his trunk which is transformed into a mount.
SOUTHEAST
CORNER TOWER
(North
side): The head of a monster is eating an elephant.
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