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Angkor Travel
Guide
Palilay (Preah)
Location: North of Phimeanakas (see
map page 80)
Access: Enter and leave the monument
from the east.
Tip: The jungle around Prah Palilay
is peaceful. Leave Tep Pranam and
walk to rah Palilay, then around the
temple.
Date: Middle to last halt of the
12th century
King: Jayavarman VII
Religion: Buddhist
Art Style: Angkor Wat
Background
The presence of Buddhist monks and
nuns at this temple give it a
feeling of an active place of
worship. Lintels and pediments lying
on the ground at the sides and back
of the temple afford a rare
opportunity to see relief at eye
level. Many depict Buddhist scenes
with Hindu divinities.
Layout
A large seated Buddha
in front of the temple of Prah
Palilay is of a recent date. A
terrace in the shape of a cross
precedes the temple and stands as an
elegant example of the 'classic
'period of Khmer art. Serpent
balustrades terminating with a crest
of seven heads frame the terrace. A
causeway joins the terrace to the
entry tower at the east set in the
enclosing laterite wall, of which
only parts remain. The entry tower
is in the shape of a cross and has
three passages and a cylindrical
vault with a bouble pediment. The
pediments of the pediments of the
entry towers are modeled with
Buddhist scenes. The lintel on the
east side of the entry tower depicts
a reclining Buddha and the pediment
on the south side has a finely
carved seated Buddha; the pediment
on the north has an uncommon
depiction of a standing Buddha with
his hand resting on an elephant.
There are remains of two guardians
(decapitated) on the east and two
lions on the ground between the
terrace and the Central Sanctuary.
Central Sanctuary
Only the Central Sanctuary of Prah
Palolay remains intact. The
sandstone tower opens on four sides,
each one of which has a porch. The
tower stands on a base with three
tiers and has a stairway on each
side. On the upper portion there is
a truncated pyramid that forms a
sort of chimney, which is filled
with reused stones.
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