Lolei

Hindu temple in Cambodia

Lolei

Religion
Affiliation| Hinduism
Deity| Shiva
Location
Location| Roluos, Siem Reap
Country| Cambodia

Location in Cambodia

Geographic coordinates| 13°21′10″N 103°58′26″E﻿ / ﻿13.35278°N 103.97389°E﻿ / 13.35278; 103.97389
Architecture
Type| Khmer (Preah Ko to Bakheng style)
Creator| Yasovarman I
Completed| 893 A.D.

This article contains Khmer text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Khmer script.

Lolei (Khmer: ប្រាសាទលលៃ) is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group of three late 9th century Hindu temples at Angkor, Cambodia, the others members of which are Preah Ko and the Bakong. Lolei was the last of the three temples to be built as part of the city of Hariharalaya that once flourished at Roluos, and in 893 the Khmer king Yasovarman I dedicated it to Shiva and members of the royal family. The name "Lolei" is thought to be a modern corruption of the ancient name "Hariharalaya,"[1]: 98, 112 which means "the city of Harihara." Once an island temple, Lolei was located on an island slightly north of the centre in the now dry Indratataka baray,[2]: 60 construction of which had nearly been completed under Yasovarman's father and predecessor Indravarman I. Scholars believe that placing the temple on an island in the middle of a body of water served to identify it symbolically with Mount Meru, home of the gods, which in Hindu mythology is surrounded by the world oceans.[3]

## Site

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This sandstone carving at Lolei shows a fanged dvarapala armed with a trident standing in an arched doorway. At the level of his elbows, two makara heads face outward.

Lolei consists of four brick temple towers grouped together on a terrace. The king built Lolei for his ancestors. One for his grandfather, one for his grandmother, one for his father, and one for his mother. The two front towers are for the males while the two towers at the back are for the females. The two taller towers are for his grandparents while the two shorter towers are for his parents. Originally, the towers were enclosed by an outer wall access through which was through a gopura, but neither wall nor gopura has survived to the present. Today, the temple is next to a monastery, just as in the 9th century it was next to an ashrama.[4]

The temple towers are known for their decorative elements, including their false doors, their carved lintels, and their carved devatas and dvarapalas which flank both real and false doors. Some of the motifs represented in the lintels and other sandstone carvings are the sky-god Indra mounted on the elephant Airavata, serpent-like monsters called makaras, and multi-headed nagas.

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
2. ^ Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN 9781842125847
3. ^ Jessup, p.77; Freeman and Jacques, pp.202 ff.
4. ^ Freeman and Jacques, p.202.

## References

[edit]

* Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques, Ancient Angkor (Bangkok: River Books, 1999.)
* Helen Ibbetson Jessup, Art & Architecture of Cambodia (London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.)

## See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lolei.

* Angkor
* Architecture of Cambodia
* Bakong
* Preah Ko

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Angkorian sites

Angkorian sites in Thailand

Isan|

| Khorat Plateau|

* Ban Thanon Hak
* Huai Thap Than
* Muang Tam
* Phimai
* Phanom Wan
* Phanom Rung
* Ta Krabey
* Ta Muen Toch
* Sikhoraphum
* Wat Chao Chan

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Sakonnakhon Plateau|

* Ban Panna
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* Dum
* Narai Cheng Weng
* Phu Pek
* Saphan Khom

Elsewhere|

* Dong Lakhon
* Khao Lon
* Khao Noi
* Mueang Sing
* Prang Khaek
* Prang Sam Yot
* Prang Wat Chulamani
* San Phra Kan
* San Ta Pha Daeng
* Sdok Kok Thom
* Si Thep
* Wat Chao Chan
* Wat Kamphaeng Laeng
* Wat Mahathat Worawihan
* Wat Phra Phai Luang
* Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Chaliang
* Wat Si Sawai

Angkorian sites in Cambodia

Angkor|

* Ak Yum
* Angkor Wat
* Baksei Chamkrong
* Banteay Kdei
* Banteay Samré
* Banteay Srei

* Bat Chum
* Chau Say Tevoda
* East Baray
* East Mebon
* Kbal Spean
* Krol Ko
* Neak Pean
* Phnom Bakheng
* Phnom Bok
* Phnom Dei
* Phnom Krom
* Phnom Kulen
* Prasat Kravan
* Preah Khan
* Pre Rup
* Spean Thma
* Srah Srang
* Ta Keo
* Ta Nei
* Ta Prohm
* Ta Som
* Thommanon
* West Baray
* West Mebon

Angkor Thom|

* Angkor Thom
* Baphuon
* The Bayon
* The Khleangs
* Mangalartha
* Phimeanakas
* Prasat Suor Prat
* Preah Palilay
* Preah Pithu
* Terrace of the Elephants
* Terrace of the Leper King

Roluos|

* Roluos
* Bakong
* Lolei
* Preah Ko

Cities|

* Amarendrapura
* Mahendraparvata
* Hariharalaya
* Yasodharapura
* Nokor Thom

Elsewhere|

* Angkor Borei
* Banteay Chhmar
* Banteay Prei Nokor
* Beng Mealea
* Koh Ker
* Phnom Chiso
* Phnom Da
* Preah Khan Kompong Svay
* Preah Vihear
* Sambor Prei Kuk
* Snoeng Temples
* Tonle Bati
* Wat Nokor

Angkorian sites in Laos

* Vat Phou
* Vat Tomo

Disputed between Cambodia and Thailand

* Ta Muen Thom

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Siem Reap province

Capital city: Siem Reap

Districts|

* Angkor Chum District
* Angkor Thom District
* Banteay Srei District
* Chi Kraeng District
* Puok Thala District
* Kralanh District
* Prasat Bakong District
* Siem Reap Municipality
* city
* Sout Nikom District
* Srei Snam District
* Svay Leu District
* Varin District

Geography|

* Siem Reap River
* Tonlé Sap

Angkor Sites|

* Angkor Thom
* Angkor Wat
* Banteay Srei
* Baphuon
* Bayon
* Ta Prohm

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