Ta Keo: 7 Oct

Ta Keo: 7 Oct 2003

'The tower of crystal or glass'. The majestic ziggurat of Ta Keo, most enigmatic of the minor fanes, stepping up towards the sun with a dignity and power suggestive of Angkor Wat. It is dripping with green and crowned with trees, but is still supreme over the forest. It's rocky masses, rising above the tops of the coconut palms, convey the impression that it only recently emerged from some cavern underground, carrying the forest with it in its rocketing ascent. Lacking the usual ornament, its simplicity gives it architectural importance. Its plan shows the development of a new spirit in the people, the growth of good taste.

Temple Mountain

Ta Keo was built by Jayavarman V in the late 10th century, and was dedicated to Shiva. It was the first Angkorian monument built entirely of sand stone. It was thus known in its time as "the mountain with golden peaks"

Awaiting

A replica of Mount Meru with a rectangular plan and five square towers arranged in a quincunx, standing majestically on a finely moulded three-tiered 12 m high pedestal, the temple rises to a height of 22 m to the sky.

Library

The temple construction was never completed, it seems to have stopped early in the decorative phase of the construction. Thus the stark absence of decorations at Ta Keo gives it a simplicity of design that separates it from the other monuments.