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Ta Som Devata – Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som devata 55 crop 243x300 Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Perhaps her distant grandmother is portrayed in the ancient temple nearby?

By Kent Davis

The Khmer temple of Ta Som is located northeast of the walled city of Angkor Thom and east of the water temple of Neak Pean.

King Jayavarman VII built Ta Som late in the 12th century and dedicated it to his father, King Dharanindravarman II, who ruled the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160 following the death of King Suryavarman II.

Like most Khmer temples, Ta Som is filled with standing female images called devata (or tevoda, tevada), and flying or dancing female divinities called apsara (or apsarases, apsaras).

At first glance the women appear similar, but upon close examination one sees that each is unique and features her own special attributes. Some display attributes and abilities that characterize them as divine. Others seem to be earthly women fulfilling sacred duties.

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Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

Ta Som Devata Sacred Khmer Women in 12th Century Cambodia

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Posted in Devata & Apsara Photos, Devata Research, Khmer History. Tagged with , , , , .

By admin
July 28, 2009

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Continuing the Discussion

  1. Ta Som Khmer Temple - Siem Reap, Cambodia | Angkor Wat Aspara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context linked to this post on July 28, 2009

    [...] For detailed photos of the Khmer devata and apsara of Ta Som please visit this page. [...]

  2. Rajarani Temple: Indian Devata of Orissa | Angkor Wat Aspara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context linked to this post on October 10, 2009

    [...] at Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan, Thommanon, Ta Som and other Khmer temples, we find female images as the majority of figures on Rajarani’s main [...]

  3. Best Khmer Temple Photo Index - Cambodia and Thailand | Angkor Wat Aspara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context linked to this post on December 23, 2009

    [...] Prasat Ta Som Devata [...]

  4. Ancient Queens Who Shaped an Asian Empire: Indradevi and Jayarajadevi | Angkor Wat Apsara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context linked to this post on October 16, 2010

    [...] chiseled out thousands of royal Mahayana trinities from the walls (see photo above). In Ta Som, Shivaists removed pediments featuring Avalokiteshvara at the main temple entries along with the [...]

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