Thread by @History_Mystery

#BanteaySrei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the #LordShiva. Located in Angkor, it lies near Phnom Dei hill, 25 km north-east of main group of temples that once belonged to medieval capitals of Yasodharapura & Angkor Thom.

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#BanteaySrei is built largely of RedSandstone that lends itself to elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. Consecrated on 22April 967 A.D,its construction is credited to courtiers named Vishnukumara & Yajnavaraha 2/2

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#BanteaySrei (Citadel of Women) is modern name of 10th-century Khmer temple originally called "Tribhuvanamaheśvara" (Great Lord of Threefold World), an appellation of #LordShiva. Originally, temple was surrounded by a town called Īśvarapura.

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The temple's modern name, #BanteaySrĕi is probably related to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings of devtas found on the walls and the tiny dimensions of the buildings themselves.

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#BanteaySrei is built largely of hard red sandstone that can be carved like wood. Brick & laterite were used only for the enclosure walls & some structural elements. The temple is known for the beauty of its sandstone lintels & pediments.

Decorative carvings seem to cover almost every available surface.

#BanteaySrei is known for the intricacy of its carvings. This carving is of a kala, a mythical creature symbolic of time and of #LordShiva.

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📷Many niches in the temple walls contain carvings of the guardian dvarapala (an armed protector of the temple) and devata (demi-goddess).

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The inner enclosure contains the sanctuary which includes 2 buildings conventionally referred to as libraries.

The 2 libraries are of brick, laterite & sandstone. Each library has 2 pediments, one on the eastern side & one on the western.

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A pediment is the roughly triangular space above a rectangular doorway or openings.

📷The pediment representing the fight between the asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda over the apsaras Tilottamā is located in the Musée Guimet.

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📷1: The combat between Vali and Sugriva as well as Lord Rama's intervention on Sugriva's behalf
is depicted on the western gopura.

📷2: #LordShiva Nataraja is depicted on the eastern gopura of the inner enclosure wall.

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The gopura is all that remains of the outer wall surrounding the town of Isvapura. 📷: The outer gopura's eastern pediment shows Indra, who was associated with that direction, mounted on his three-headed elephant Airavata

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