Overview

• Date: Late 12th-Early 13th century
• Religion: Buddhist
• Patron: Jayavarman VII
• Style: Angkor Wat/Bayon

Purpose

While it is not known to whom this temple was dedicated, it was an important Buddhist monastic complex.

Significance

No data

History

Jayavarman VII constructed Banteay Kdei, along with the larger temples of Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, for use as a Buddhist monastery. As such, it was heavily vandalized in the anti-Buddhist movement of the 13th century. But following the resurgence of Buddhism it was again occupied by monks, who remained well after the fall of Angkor--a pagoda was located on the site until the early 1920s. Recently, a cache of smashed Buddhas was discovered buried under a layer of pavement at the site.

Description

This monastic complex was originally composed of a central sanctuary, with two surrounding cocentric galleries. A moat and a laterite wall further enclosed the complex, which was accessed by four gopuras, each with four faces as typical of the Bayon style. The layout is difficult to recognize today due to the level of disrepair. The layout is similar, if smaller, to that of Ta Prohm and Preah Khan.