O Paong Temple

     ANM-Bulletin Vol.1

     Ms. Khan Lakhena and Chhun Sambor

Prasat O Paong located on Kulen Mountain in Anlong Thom village, Khnorng Phnom Commune, Svay Leur district and Siem Reap province. It was about 6 Kilometers to the northwest of Preah Ang Thom (a colossal reclining Buddha on Kulen Mountain). This temple stands in the dense forest, next to Ro hal village in the west (presently it was abandoned), Anlong Thom village in the east, forest in the north and close to the creek in the south.

Prasat O Paong was built in four different materials: brick, sandstone, laterite and wood. It is a single sanctuary in brick, 25 meters height in 3 tiers division. Moreover, each tier of its tower is elaborated with false doors and miniature shrines in four cardinal directions. Noteworthy, at the ground level does not have a false door as the first, second and third tier, but it has an accessible doorway enclosed by other three walls. On the other hand, at the upper part of this temple is made by reducing roof technique, it forms three tiers in different height (first tier is 4.10 meters height, second tier is 3.30 meters height and third tier is 2.15 meter height) and maintained properly the same feature in square shape for each tier. Furthermore, the base of Prasat O Paong is also made in brick, square shape and has 16.5 meter length by 16.5 meter width and 1.40 meter height.

Explanatory on the base, it was neither appears with any floral motifs nor figures, but simply carved in convex and concave shape and only three round-lined motifs. Besides, there is a stairway made in sandstone in the eastern side and impressively, Prasat O Paong enclosed by one enclosure wall in brick and laterite, size: 40.5 meter by 37 meters (Chevence, 2005).

There are two remarkable ornaments for architectural element of Prasat O Paong, i.e. lintel and colonettes. It has only one sandstone lintel placed over the entrance doorway (size: 250 centimeters in length and 93 centimeters in height). The condition of the lintel is very good, technically observed, its style is quite similar to Kampong Preah and Sambor Prei kuk: at the central arch, it forms a foliage branch in a bow shape with beautiful divergent tendrils at the end and more elaboration by depicting three medallions, the big central one is carved in poly-lobed medallion as a seated figure on the throne (it might be a king or deity), flanked by two attendants, and a charming head of Rahu or kala is underneath. For other two smaller medallions, it depicts a deity mounting on an animal (Garuda?) in divergent position. Additionally, below this, there is an impressive illumination of a row of larger leaf-motifs turning up with suspended flowers and at the upper frieze of the lintel; there is a row of fish-egg motifs with stylized lotus petals at above. All of these decorations are typically regarded as a new creation art.

Besides the lintel, there are two gorgeous colonettes, flanking at the doorframe with an octagonal shape and richly decorations on the capital, shaft and the base. The capital is remarkably divided in two parts: the upper part has bulb, ring motif and multi-tiny leafs motif. For the lower part, it elaborates with lotus petals at the central part, and surrounded by a row of fish-eggs and large leafs motif.

On the shaft, there are four rings with some leaf ornamentation and small fish-eggs motif. Interestingly, at the base of the colonette, it adorned with four large leafs motif at each corner and attached more illuminations with a ring motif and Chan-flower motifs (Khmer called Kbach Chak Kra Chan and Kbach Phkar Chan).

Due to comparison approach of lintels and colonettes with other contemporary temples, i.e. Prasat Neak Ta and Prasat Krahorm. Prasat O Paong can be assumed that, it was erected under the reign of Jayavarman II (802-850 AD). By the way, referring to the depiction of the lintel of Prasat O Paong, there is a seated human figure on the throne with his right leg hanging down, comprising of the image of Kala or Rahu. More detail, at the end of Garuda’s beak has some folds; this art might be influenced from Javanese art.