Preah Neak Pean, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Taken with Nikon D60, dated May 2009

Neak Pean means Intertwined Serpent (Naga). It was late 12th century Buddhist temple constructed by Jayavarman VII. Neak Pean is quite different. it has a large square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the centre of the central pool is a circular 'island' encircled by the two naga whose intertwined tails give the temple its name.


Taken with Nikon D60, dated May 2009

In the pool around the central is island, there were once four statues, but only one remains, reconstructed from the debris by the French archaeologists who cleared the site. The statue has the body of a horse with four human legs. It relates to a legend that Avalokiteshvara once saved a group of shipwrecked followers from an island of ghouls by transforming himself into a flying horse. There are four ornamental water spouts from the central pool to the four smaller ones. The spouts are in the form of a head of elephant, horse, lion and human. The pool was used for ritual purification rites.