Angkor temples

Ta Som

Jayavarman VII (1181-1219) built this small quiet Buddhist temple, dedicated to his father, by the end of the 12^th century. It is a single tower monument on one level surrounded by three enclosing walls with entry gates at the east and the west sides. Four faces are carved in each entry tower.

The central sanctuary has the shape of a cross with four porches. To see the central sanctuary, one must climb through the opening on the north side.

The temple is completely lost in the jungle. In the past, one of the significant features of Ta Som was the growth of ficus trees in the faces at the entrance tower, which provided a dramatic example of nature and art entwined. These have been removed from the east tower but are still visible in the west tower.

During the Khmer Rouge period, the temple functioned as a hospital.