Ta Keo was founded about the beginning of the XI th century. Was the first sandstone temple, traditional, colossal and treated in a masterly way. Five stages going of 100m & 120m with 47m & 47m, covered sandstone, culminating with 22m. Its construction, very neat and made with enormous blocks of stone but was abandoned after the beginning of ornament work.
An inscription saying that "the lightning was falling on the working temple" (G.Coedès), contradicted by J.Boisselier, thinks that it was the harmful sign which caused the abandonment of the temple. Work was resumed in the reign of Suryavarman , which, moreover has entrusted the guards and maintaining to some dignitaries. The inscriptions celebrate the beauty of the king Jayavarman V, his courage, his intelligence, his kindness: " Like a father cherished of his children, he dried the tears of his afflicted subjects " Jayavarman V is deceased into 1001. |
