| Prasat Kravan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Deity | Vishnu |
| Location | |
| Location | Angkor, south of the Srah Srang baray |
| Country | Cambodia |
  Location in Cambodia | |
| Geographic coordinates | 13°25′11″N 103°53′59″E / 13.41972°N 103.89972°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Early Angkorian |
| Creator | High officials under Harshavarman I or Ishanavarman II |
| Completed | 921 |
Prasat Kravan (Khmer: ប្រាសាទក្រវាន់) is a small 10th-century temple consisting of five reddish brick towers on a common terrace, at Angkor, Cambodia, south of the artificial lake (baray) called Srah Srang. Its original Sanskrit name is unknown. The modern name in Khmer, "Prasat Kravan", means artabotrys odoratissimus temple. The temple was dedicated to Vishnu in 921 CE,[1]: 70 according to an inscription on doorjambs.[2]
The site was cleaned from vegetation in the 1930s by Henri Marchal and Georges Trouvé. Afterwards the towers were restored on Bernard Philippe Groslier's initiative from 1962 to 1966,[2] adding some new bricks which are marked with a "CA" (meaning "Conservation Angkor").[3]
The temple is oriented to the east and surrounded by a small moat. Its exterior is striking for its classical lines and symmetry. The central and the south tower have superstructures which take advantage of false perspective by simple means of diminishing tiers. The sanctuary's interiors are remarkable for the large bas-relief depictions of Vishnu and Lakshmi that have been carved into the walls of reddish brick, connected by a vegetable compound. This type of sculptured artwork is rather common in Cham temples, but rare in known Khmer monuments.[4]
- ^ Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN 9781842125847
- ^ a b Glaize 1993, p.153
- ^ Freeman, Jacques 2006, p.153
- ^ in Freeman, Jacques 2006 The authors say they are "the only known examples of their type" but this is incorrect, e.g., there are brick bas-reliefs in Vat Praeus Meas (page on CISARK site Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine), Phnom Trop group, near Skuon, in Kampong Cham Province. For some photos see http://angkorexplorers.nengu.jp/07ruins/16_013phnomtrop/index.htm . Pointed out on Andy Brouwer's blog.