Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure
Angkor Wat period (12th c. CE)·Khmer (Suryavarman II)·🇰🇭 Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
About
About Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure
Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia is a Angkor Wat period (12th c. CE) temple-complex attributed to Khmer (Suryavarman II). Jungle temple outer enclosure 181 × 152 m with moat and collapsed gallery swallowed by tetrameles roots. Sister temple to Angkor Wat (same architect), strangled by jungle, moat dry.
Why it mattersType-site for Khmer (Suryavarman II) temple architecture
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronological sequence refinement
- 02Iconography program
Theories
- 01Shaivite cult centre
- 02Hydraulic kingship model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1130 CE
- Period
- Angkor Wat period (12th c. CE)
- Culture
- Khmer (Suryavarman II)
- Purpose
- Jungle temple outer enclosure 181 × 152 m with moat and collapsed gallery swallowed by tetrameles roots
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1130 CE
Initial construction
c. 1990 CE
UNESCO / EFEO restoration
On the ground
Structures & features
13.4760° N · 104.2370° E · 30 m · 3 mapped features
- Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure — Central Sanctuary TowertowerCentral kalan or prang shrine13.4762° N · 104.2371° E
- Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure — Mandapa / Gopura HallmandapaEntrance mandapa or gopura13.4758° N · 104.2372° E
- Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure — Enclosure and MoatenclosureOuter laterite enclosure and moat13.4765° N · 104.2368° E
Gallery