Banteay Srey Temple at Siem Reap

 

     The art gallery of Angkor, Banteay srey is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian artisanship. A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, it is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carving seen anywhere on earth. it is one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stature. It is wonderfully well preserved and many of its carvings are three dimensional. Banteay srey means 'Citadel of the
women' and it is said that it must have been built by a woman, as the elaborate carvings are
supposedly too fine for the hand of a man.

   Constrution on Banteay Srey began in AD 967 and it is one of the few temples around Angkor to be commissioned not by a king but by a brahman, who may have been a tutor to jayavarman V. The temple is square and has entrances at the east and west, the east approached by a causeway. Of interest are the lavishly decorated libraries and the three central towers, which are decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work.
    classic carvings at Banteay Srey include delicate women with lotus flowers in hand and traditional skirts clearly visible, as well as breathtaking recreations of scenes from the epic Ramayana adorning the library pediments (carved inlays above a lintel). However, the sum of the parts is no greater than the whole - almost every inch of these interior buildings is covered in decoration. Standing watch over such perfect creations are the mythical guardians all of which are copies of originals stored in the National Museum.

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