MangoVine - Intricate Bas Relief Carvings at Banteay Srei

08 December, 2009
Tuesday

After visiting Kbal Spean, we headed onto Banteay Srei, a 10th century temple that was a little closer to Siem Reap. Banteay Srei was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and was built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings there.

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The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction and I wondered if this was due to it being the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch (its construction was credited to a courtier).

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The temple's modern name, Banteay Srei means "citadel of the women" or "citadel of beauty" and apparently is probably related to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings and the tiny dimensions of the buildings.

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From what I remember, our guide also told us how the temple was used for target practise during one of Cambodia's wars. These posts below may have been resting points for marksmen who challenged each other on their accuracy at hitting the towers in the distance.

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More photos of Banteay Srei below.

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Intricate Bas Relief Carvings at Banteay Srei

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