Phimeanakas

Phimeanakas
Phimeanakas
Location in Cambodia
Name
Proper name Phimeanakas
Geography
Coordinates 13°26′44″N 103°51′21″E / 13.44556°N 103.85583°ECoordinates: 13°26′44″N 103°51′21″E / 13.44556°N 103.85583°E
Country Cambodia
Location Angkor
History and governance
Date built end of the 10th century
Creator Rajendravarman

Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាស, Prasat Phimean Akas, 'celestial temple') or Vimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទវិមានអាកាស, Prasat Vimean Akas) at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (from 941-968), then rebuilt by Suryavarman II in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple. On top of the pyramid there was a tower, while on the edge of top platform there are galleries. Phimeanakas is located inside the walled enclosure of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom north of Baphuon.[1]

The tower must originally have been crowned with a golden pinnacle, as Zhou Daguan described it in his report. According to legend, the king spent the first watch of every night with a woman thought to represent a Nāga in the tower, during that time, not even the queen was permitted to intrude. Only in the second watch the king returned to his palace with the queen. If the naga who was the supreme land owner of Khmer land did not show up for a night, the king's day would be numbered, if the king did not show up, calamity would strike his land.[2]

Gallery

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phimeanakas.
  1. ↑ "Phimean Akas - Aerial Palace". tourismcambodia.com. Tourism Cambodia. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  2. ↑ Zhou Daguan:The Customs of Cambodia