Koh ker
The Short-lived Capital of the Colossal Linga
The history of the royal families of the Khmer Empire represents a history of power struggles over the throne. In the beginning of the 10th century, Jayavaman IV, the seventh king of the Khmer Empire transferred the capital away from Angkor a city called Chok Gargyar, 80 km north. The city is known today as the site of the Koh ker Monuments.
In 921 A.D., he housed his god-king statue on the summit of Prasat Thom, a pyramid mountain-temple in the center of the city. Koh Ker was the capital of the Khmer Empire for twenty years. Though the capital was returned to Angkor immediately upon the death of Harshavarman II, the successor of Jayavarman IV, Koh Ker remained home to numerous temples housing huge Linga in their main sanctuary.
The Short-lived Capital of the Colossal Linga
The history of the royal families of the Khmer Empire represents a history of power struggles over the throne. In the beginning of the 10th century, Jayavaman IV, the seventh king of the Khmer Empire transferred the capital away from Angkor a city called Chok Gargyar, 80 km north. The city is known today as the site of the Koh ker Monuments.
In 921 A.D., he housed his god-king statue on the summit of Prasat Thom, a pyramid mountain-temple in the center of the city. Koh Ker was the capital of the Khmer Empire for twenty years. Though the capital was returned to Angkor immediately upon the death of Harshavarman II, the successor of Jayavarman IV, Koh Ker remained home to numerous temples housing huge Linga in their main sanctuary.
