﻿ Asisbiz Photo's of Banteay Srei Temple Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Srei

Date of Construction: Late 10th century C.E.
Religious Affiliation: Hinduism
Patron or King: Rajendravarman
Artistic/Archeo. Style: Banteay Srey
Location: Outside the main Park area. 37 kms north of Siem Reap
Photography Notes: Many of the carvings are roped off. Bring a telephoto lens and tripod for carving shots.
Position: 13d35'56N 103d57'46E

Banteay Srei loosely translates to citadel of the women, but this is a modern appellation that probably refers to the delicate beauty of the carvings.


Banteay Srei displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art.


The temple was discovered by French archaeologists relatively late, in 1914.

From Angkor: The tenth century temple of Banteay Srei is renowned for its intricate decoration carved in pinkish sandstone that covers the walls like tapestry.


A special feature of the exquisite decoration was the use of hard pink sandstone (quartz arenite) which enabled the technique of sandalwood carving with even an Indian scent to it.

Architectural and decorative features of Banteay Srei are unique and exceptionally fine.

The architecture is distinguished by triple superimposed frontons with relief narrative scenes carved in the tympanums, terminal motifs on the frames of the arches, and standing figures in the niches.

Panels are decorated with scenes inspired by Indian epics, especially the Ramayana and its execution has a liveliness not seen in the more formal decoration of earlier temples.

Banteay Srei (is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.


The factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a precious gem, or the jewel of Khmer art.

Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women) is the modern name of a 10th century Khmer temple originally called Tribhuvanamahesvara (Great Lord of the Threefold World), an appellation of the god Siva.


The temple was surrounded by a town called Isvarapura.


Yajnyavaraha's temple was primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.


The temple's modern name, Banteay Srei - citadel of the women, or citadel of beauty - is probably related to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings found on the walls and the tiny dimensions of the buildings themselves.






The temple has been ravaged by pilfering and vandalism.







At Banteay Srei, wrote Glaize, the work relates more closely to the art of the goldsmith or to carving in wood than to sculpture in stone.

Like most Khmer temples, Banteay Srei is oriented towards the east.

It consists of three concentric rectangular enclosures constructed on an east-west axis.





The pediment representing the fight between the asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda over the apsara Tilottama is located in the Musée Guimet.


Neither pediment of the eastern gopura is in situ.


The east-facing pediment is lying on the ground.



The western gopura features an interesting bas relief depicting the duel of the monkey princes Vali and Sugreeva, as well as Rama's intervention on Sugreeva's behalf.


The eastern pediment of the gopura shows Shiva Nataraja; the west-facing pediment has an image of Durga.


A pediment on one of the galleries shows the lion-man Narasimha clawing the demon Hiranyakasipu.





According to Maurice Glaize, the four library pediments, representing the first appearance of tympanums with scenes, are works of the highest order.






Uma sits to Shiva's right; he is handing her a chain of beads.



According to the legend, Kama fired an arrow at Shiva in order to cause Shiva to take an interest in Uma.

Shiva was greatly angered by this provocation, and punished Kama by gazing upon him with his third eye, frying Kama to cinders.

The east-facing pediment on the northern library shows the god of the sky Indra creating rain to put out a forest fire started by the god of fire Agni for purposes of killing the naga king Takshaka who lived in Khandava Forest.

The Mahabharatan heroes Krishna and Arjuna are shown helping Agni by firing a dense hail of arrows to block Indra's rain.

Takshaka's son Aswasena is depicted attempting to escape from the conflagration, while other animals stampede about in panic.

The west-facing pediment on the southern library depicts Krishna slaying his wicked uncle Kamsa.

The sanctuary is entered from the east by a doorway only 1.08 m in height: inside is an entrance chamber (or mandapa) with a corbelled brick roof, then a short corridor leading to three towers to the west: the central tower is the tallest, at 9.8 m. Glaize notes the impression of delicacy given the towers by the antefixes on each of their tiers.

Banteay Srei Siem Reap, Cambodia Map

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This webpage was updated Apr 21, 2015

 Editor for Asisbiz: Matthew Laird Acred