Cambodia Temple #14: Ak Yum Temple (Cambodia Temple-Mountain)

Ak Yum temple is located on the southern bank of the West Baray, around 1 kilometer from the Baray's southwest corner. Because of its obscurity, numerous Tuk Tuk drivers and tour guides may not know where it is situated. Since the raising of the water level, one can only get there by boat, on condition that the vegetation around the temple itself is cleared.  

At first look, the ruins of Ak Yum temple appear to be nothing more than a pile of rubbish. Hence, numerous visitors and organized tours deliberately avoid this obscure monument. However, for the genuine Angkor lover, Ak Yum temple is a must-see gateway into the pre-Angkorian time of the Khmer people.  

Ak Yum is the temple in the Angkor area of Cambodia. The primary structure on the site was a single-chamber brick sanctuary, likely built toward the end of the eighth Century, researchers believe. Later the temple was revamped as a stepped pyramid structure, with a base around 100 meters square.  

Ak Yum temple is the earliest known example of the (temple-mountain) architectural design formula, which was become an essential design formula for a significant number of the Angkorian period temples including Angkor Wat.

The temple was constructed on three levels standing on a stage and encased by a brick wall. The landmark was constructed of brick with sandstone bays. Four shrines occupied the sides of the second level and two others stood on each side, making a sum of twelve shrines. The focal sanctuary was on the highest three sides. Post holes are as still visible and were most likely used to help a wooden system for the landmark.  

The temple-mountain architectural formula of Ak Yum temple paved the way for the more well-known temples of the Angkor period, especially Angkor Wat temple.  

Ancient engravings situated on a portion of the temple's jamb stones uncover that the patron deity of Ak Yum temple was Gambhiresvara, the Hindu lord of the profundities.  

Some pictures of Ak Yum temple:

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