Where in the World are We?

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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Ta Keo, Cambodia

The next temple we visited was Ta Keo, possibly the first temple to be built entirely of sandstone.  King Jayavarman V started construction of this temple in 975.  He called it Hemagiri, meaning "the mountain with golden summits".  It is different than the other temples because it has absolutely no carvings or statutes; this is because to this day it remains unfinished. We don't know exactly why - Yogisvarapandita, a high priest at the time, wrote in inscriptions that a lightning strike hit the unfinished building, which was interpreted as an evil omen, so all work stopped.  However, the work may have also stopped due to the death of Jayavarman V.  Either way, the temple worked continuously as a cult center until the 13th century.

They seem to be restoring parts of the entrance.

Another angle - again notice the lack of carvings.

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