Roluos Temples

The Rolous Group is a collection of ancient temples located about 13 kilometers east of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the earliest temple complexes built during the Khmer Empire, dating back to the late 9th century. The group includes three main temples: Lolei, Preah Ko, and Bakong. The Rolous Group is significant for its historical and architectural value, showcasing early Khmer temple design and the transition from brick to sandstone construction. It provides insight into the early development of Khmer art and culture before the rise of the more famous Angkor temples.

Bakong

In 802 AD, Jayavarman II, the first king of Angkor, declared the sovereignty of Cambodia. After experiencing various ups and downs, he established his capital at Hariharalaya. A few decades later, his successors constructed Bakong in stages as the first temple mountain of sandstone at Angkor. The inscription on its stele (classified K.826) states that in 881, King Indravarman I dedicated the temple to the god Shiva and consecrated its central religious image, a lingam named Sri Indresvara, which combined the king's own name with the suffix "-esvara," meaning Shiva ("Iśvara"). According to George Coedès, the devarāja cult was based on the idea of divine kingship as a legitimacy of royal power; however, later authors have stated that it does not necessarily involve the cult of the physical persona of the ruler himself.