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Snoeng Temples

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Prasat Snoeng Khang Complex
ប្រាសាទស្នឹង
LocationSnoeng, Banan district, Battambang, Cambodia

Snoeng Temples[a], known locally as Prasat Sneung, refers to the remains of two ancient Hindu Khmer temples, Snoeng East Temple (Prasat Snoeng Khang Khaeut) and Snoeng West Temple (Prasat Snoeng Khang Lech), separated by 200 meters inside the compound of Wat Snung,[3] both build in different eras around 11th and 12th century,[1] with the western one being newer.[4][5][6] The complex is located at around 22kms southwest of Battambang city.[6][7]XXXXXX[8]

History

While both temples were built in the Khmer period, both show different styles as they were built in different eras within that time period, with the East temple being made when Battambang played an important role in the Khmer Empire.[1] The eastern temple has inscriptions in Sanskrit and Khmer about some important officials under Suryavarman I, and emphasises on a district called 'Sruk Chrei Pak Sneng', thus suggesting that 'Snoeng' cold have derived from 'Sneng'.[9] The western temple has no inscription on it making it difficult to understand when the temples were built. The earliest modern record of the temple dates to 1911, when Lunet de Lajonquière listed it as 867th in his ancient list.[10] The eastern temple is estimated to have been built in 11th century, during the reign of either Suryavarman I or his son Udayadityavarman II.[10]

Temples

The East temple is located opposite to Wat Sneung, a modern pagoda, near a pond in the backyard whereas the West temple is situated at the northwestern border of Wat Sneung, a modern pagoda.[1] Over the years, the temples have been damaged and the its elements scattered around the region. In 2020, provincial department collected 67 pieces of the Snoeng temple, storing them near the West temple, hoping to restore them in future when budget is allocated to do so.[11]

Snoeng East Temple

Snoeng East Temple, known locally as Prasat Snoeng Khang Khaeut, is a complex of three distinct towers remains made of bricks on a laterite slab,[12] known locally as Prasat,[1] aligned on the north-south axis with all having an entrance on the east direction.[4][11] The trio share a common terrace, each having a extended entrance with a with sandstone doorframe and are situated on top of a hill.[4][5] The center tower is the largest of the three, possessing decorated door columns of octagonal shape which support its decorative lintel in situ. The temple towers are surrounded by pedestal and elements, especially those of Crown.[4] The dimension of the eastern block is 30m in length and 20m in width and is features a structure similar to other temples from 12th century.[5][1] A large lintel on the door shows Indra sitting on his three headed elephant Airavata next to Rahu,[11] with foliage differing those from of early and late 12th century, making it likely to have been built it during early 11th century under Suryavarman I who was local ruler then.[1][b] However, Kim Sophoan, director of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts for Battambang province, claims that the the East temple was built in the 11th century during the reign of King Udayadityavarman II whose reign lasted from 1050 to 1066.

Snoeng West Temple

Snoeng West Temple, known locally as Prasat Snoeng Khang Lech, refers to the remains of the partially collapsed sandstone temple situated at the northwestern border of Wat Sneung, a modern pagoda.[1] Unlike the East Temple remains, the West Temple remains are located next to an National Road 57[6] and has a door for its four directions, three of which are false, with the only original being the once that faces the roadway to the east, connected to ardhamandapa.[5][10] It has relatively well-preserved lintels in situ. Each door (both false and real), except the north pointing one, has carvings of figures in two registers (bands) over it, as per the following:

Lintels above Snoeng West Temple doors[5]
Direction the door faces Carving
West Vishnu on Ananta,[c] Birth of Brahma
East (North)[d] Churning of the Sea of Milk
East (South)[d][1] Mahabharata dice game scene[e]

The door facing north door has a plain board because the carving was intended but did not start,[5] indicating with other proofs that the temple is not fully constructed.[10] The lintels do not have foliage, unlike other Angkorian period (Circa 800AD[13] - 1431[14]) lintels and the East Temple.[1]

The temple could not be entered because of large stones that have fallen inside as a result of temple's roof collapse,[11] however it is still worshipped by the locals like other ancient temples.[10] The overall damage due to nature and war has made it difficult to identify its construction time, and the pieces of temples had been were scattered for a long time with and that some stones may have been taken off the temple during the Khmer Rouge regime build granaries to storing rice.[11]

Around the site there are many related stones, with further excavation finding few laterite, pedestal, crown element, and many plinths.[5]

References and notes

Notes

  1. ^ Alternatively Snung, Sneng, Snoeng or Stung Temples.[1] , original name is unknown[2]
  2. ^ The lintel's foliage-heavy style is debated.
  3. ^ Étienne Aymonier states it is a reachsey instead.[10]
  4. ^ a b False door
  5. ^ The upper one features characters on central stage with the bottom one with other characters including three lions holding center stage

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Prasat Sneung, wonderful carvings in two different styles". ANGKOR TEMPLES IN CAMBODIA. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  2. ^ "ប្រាសាទស្នឹងខាងលិច". Apsara Media Services (in Khmer). West Snung Temple. 2022-05-22. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ "ប្រាសាទស្នឹងក្នុងខេត្តបាត់ដំបង" [Snung temple in Battambang province]. battambang.gov.kh (in Khmer). 2018. Retrieved 2024-08-19. ប្រាសាទទាំងពីរនេះស្ថិតក្នុងបរិវេណវត្តស្នឹង ។ [Both temples are located in the compound of Wat Snung.]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d LHuillier, Rodney Charles (2022-02-22). "Snoeng East Temple". Hello Angkor. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g LHuillier, Rodney Charles (2021-01-18). "Snoeng West Temple". Hello Angkor. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  6. ^ a b c "Prasat Sneung, Attraction in Battambang". Tourism of Cambodia. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  7. ^ "Prasat Sneung: Discover The Hidden Gem Of Battambang". Visit Local Travel. 2023-12-16. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  8. ^ "ប្រាសាទស្នឹងខាងលិច". Apsara Media Services (in Khmer). West Snung Temple. 2022-05-22. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. ^ Kam, Vannara (2023-04-29). "សិលាចារឹកប្រាសាទស្នឹងខាងកើត K.879". Apsara Media Services. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19. The source offers an English translation below the original Khmer text.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "ប្រាសាទស្នឹងខាងលិច" [West Snung Temple]. Apsara Media Services (in Khmer). 2022-05-22. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  11. ^ a b c d e Chan, Nhem (2022-10-02). "The Snoeng Temple: Glorious but Needing to Be Restored". Cambodianess. Translated by Cheng Ousa. Archived from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  12. ^ "ប្រាសាទស្នឹងខាងកើត" [East Snoeng Temple]. Royal Academy of Cambodia (in Khmer). Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  13. ^ Higham, Charles (2001). The Civilization of Angkor. Berkeley / Weidenfeld & Nicolson: University of California Press / London. ISBN 978-1-84212-584-7.
  14. ^ Higham, Charles (1989). The Archaeology of Mainland Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 139–140. ISBN 0-521-27525-3.
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