Pimeanakas temple

Date: late 10^th century to early 11^th century

Style: Khleang

King: Rajendravarman, Suryavarman I and Jayavarman V

Religion: Hinduism dedicate to god Shiva

Clearance work by Mr. Jean Commaille 1908, Mr. Henri Marchal 1916-1918.

Excavation of 2 pools by Mr. Maurice Glaize 1944

Phimeanakas (The aerial palace. The name Phimeanakas is derived from a Sanskrit word. Vimeanakas which means the palace in the air or floating temple.) was constructed in the end of 10^th century to beginning of 11^th century Rajendravarman, Soryavarman I and Jayavarman V. This temple is located inside the royal plaza that cover an area of about 15 hectares surrounded by a strong laterite wall which is 242m wide by 581m long and 5m in height, this royal compound has been with 5 gates which gave the access. The 2 gates are on the north, 2 are on the south and one main gate is on the east, but the east gate is larger than the others 4 gates and had been used from the beginning of the 11^th century to the end of 16^th century.  

Pimeanakas temple

Depend on Zhou Daguan, he is a Chinese emissary who came in Angkor year 1296 was mentioned the Phimeanakas temple originally was covered by a golden pinnacle (was painted by gold) and according to the legend believed that inside the golden temple there was a serpent with 9 heads which was the earth master of the kingdom, it appears every night under the form of a beautiful woman that whom the king had to sleep with her every night.  In the main tower before the king joined his wives and his concubines in the place, if the snake did not appears for one night, it would  be the end of the king´s life and also if the king failed to comes for only one night he has to suffer the fortune. Well the temple was built on a high rectangular laterite base with 28m wide by 35m long rising in three levels with 12m high and it has been with 4 stairway on each side of the building and flanking by sandstone lions, and each level of every corners you could see the sandstone elephants stood on the pedestal but mostly were damaged. The main tower was stood on the 3 levels and opening to the 4 cardinal directions with the gallery enclosed, on the upper part was made during the reign of the king Suryavarman I. The inscription on the doorframe of the east gate of the royal-wall in year 1011 under the reign of the king Suryavarman 1^st was said about the promise of the officials in the kingdom have to be honest with him that is still in practice in the court of Cambodia today.

-          Southeast : royal conference hall or home of priests.

-          Southwest : royal court, king, queen and concubines.

-          Northeast : private village of mandarins and nobleman.

-         Northwest :2 pools (the east pool is 25m wide by 50m long and 4,5m deep, it was probably part of the first palace to be built near here, west pool is 45m wide by 125m long and 5,5m deep)

20.