Ta Keo

Ta Keo (968-1001)

Ta Keo temple is a state temple of King Jayavarman V,who reigned between 968-1001 A.D. and dedicated to Lord Shiva as it is a Hindu temple.

Ta Keo temple located along the way between the Victory gate of Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm temple. He began the constructions when he was seventeen-years old. King Jayavarman V was the son of Rajendravarman, who had built East Mebon temple and Pre Rup temple.

Inscriptions at the temple suggest the name of this temple was Hemagiri or Hemasringagiri which means “the mountain with golden summits”. The temple remained unfinished until the period of King Suriyavarman I (who reigned from 1006-1060 A.D.).

A further inscription notes “A lightning strike hit the unfinished building, and evil omen, so the works stopped”.

Ta Keo temple is a typical pyramid-shaped temple with five sanctuary towers arranged in a quincunx. The central tower reached a height of 45 metre. It is surrounded by a moat and connected by a 500-metres long causeway from the east.

Conservation

Ta Keo temple’s reconstruction was funded by People’s Republic of China (from 2011-2018). From excavations the staircase of the eastern moat and a statue of Lord Shiva on the terrace of the first level, were found.

Jayavarman V

Jayavarman V succeeded his father, Rajendravarman, when he was only ten years old. When Jayavarman V turned seventeen years old, he began the construction of his own state shrine, Ta Keo temple. However, an unfortunate event occurred as the edifice was hit by a thunder bolt during its construction. This was taken as an evil omen and the priests of the court performed a ritual to dispel the demons; afterward, stones and elephants were brought in to finish the job, but without success. The construction was left unfinished.