Prasat Kravan is a five towered brick temple at Angkor

Prasat Kravan is a five towered brick temple at Angkor, which was consecrated in 921 AD by a high court official of King Harshavarman I, as detailed in inscriptions found on the temple doorjambs. At the same time, the King’s uncle was setting up a new capital at Koh Ker, which he ruled as Jayavarman IV until his death. This period of history is the subject of much conjecture by scholars. As for Kravan itself, Henri Marchal and George Trouvé cleared the site in the early 1930s and Bernard Groslier painstakingly restored the temple in the early 1960s. It’s particularly well-known for its sculpted brickwork of a multi-armed Vishnu and Lakshmi inside the central and northern sanctuaries respectively, as well as a well-preserved Vishnu on Garuda lintel on the face of the southern tower. These pictures are from a recent visit. Two statues from Prasat Kravan are in the collection of the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Both represent Vishnu, to whom the temple is dedicated. Registered on the museum’s inventory as Ka.825 (on display) and Ka.112 (in reserve), both were originally noted as having an unknown provenance and no date of arrival at the museum. However, the EFEO photographic library indicates that both were found at Kravan, pictured at Angkor Conservation in the 1960s before heading to the National Museum for extensive renovation. In appearance, both look quite similar but in actual fact there are around two hundred years between each of them. Starting with the oldest, Ka.825, from the 10th century and which is the image on display to the public. The EFEO archive shows it was unearthed in September 1935, though battered and broken, particularly missing its two upper arms, lower right arm, both hands and its attributes. The style of dress dates the sculpture to the end of the Bakheng style period and the consecration of the temple of Kravan in 921 AD. Restoration efforts have reattached the right arm and fixed the breakages of both feet since it was discovered. The sampot is beautifully rendered in vertical pleats, a double-anchor front drape and pocket folds, with a wide belt and fan-shaped knot, and finishes at the knee. Vishnu’s eyes are fully open with incised iris, a thin moustache and a short beard on his chin, though his ears have been damaged. The two-tiered diadem with decorative lozenges and florets is tied at the back of the head, below a triple-tier pagoda-like octagonal crown, popular in the 10th century. As for the youngest Vishnu, Ka.112 (which is not on display), he’s characterized by his 12th century Angkor Wat style clothing and headdress, but much like his older colleague, he too has suffered the ravages of time, losing both right arms as well as his two left hands. Remarkably, both statues have retained their heads, which were usually the first body part to be removed or broken off. Immediately noticeable is that this Vishnu, at over five feet in height, retains one of its upper arms, on the left side, which in the 1960s photographs held a conch. The decorated diadem and five-tiered conical crown are in superb condition, with minimal damage to Vishnu’s face with downcast eyes, a wide smile accentuated by a thin moustache and long earlobes. The main damage to the slender torso is above the shoulder on the right side. The sampot arrangement is typical of the 12th century, which took its lead from earlier styles, as we can see a similar double-anchor front panel, pleats and pocket fold from the previous Vishnu. The sampot ends at the base of the lower anchor and is held in place with a jeweled belt.