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SUOR PROAT TEMPLE

Suor Proat temple, at other times, this temple also was called Neang Dopi Temple because of its towers, as in the tale of Neang Dopi or the story of Puthisen Neang Kangrei, is located at the beginning of the road leading to the Victory Gate, in front of the Royal Palace.

The temple was built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and features a row of 12 square laterite and sandstone towers, six on one either side of the road leading to the Victory Gate. The two towers closest to the road are set back slightly from the others. The towers have an unusual feature of windows with balustrades on three sides.

 

Entrance porches open towards the west onto the parade ground. The interior of each tower has two levels and on the upper one there is a cylindrical vault with two frontons. The frames, bays and lintels were made of sandstone. According to a Cambodian legend, the towers served as anchoring places for ropes which stretched from one to another for acrobats performing at festivals, while the king observed the performance from one of the terraces.

 

This activity is reflected in the name of the towers. Zhou Daguan wrote about the entirely different purpose of the towers in describing a method of setting dispute between men. Some think that they may have served as alter for each province on the occasion of taking the oath of loyalty to the king.

 

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