East Baray
Encyclopedia
The East Baray is a now-dry baray, or artificial body of water, at Angkor
, Cambodia
, oriented east-west and located just east of the walled city Angkor Thom
. It was built around the year 900 AD during the reign of King Yasovarman
. Fed by the Siem Reap
River flowing down from the Kulen Hills, it was the second-largest baray in the Angkor region, measuring roughly 7,150 by 1,740 meters and holding close to 50 million cubic meters of water. The labor and organization necessary for its construction were staggering: Its dikes contain roughly 8 million cubic meters of fill.
Stones bearing inscriptions that mark the construction of the baray have been found at all four of its corners. It was originally called Yashodharatataka, after its creator king.
Scholars are divided on the purpose of this and other barays. By some theories, they held water for irrigation, but no inscription has been found mentioning such a function. Other theories say that barays served primarily a symbolic purpose in Khmer
religious life, representing the seas of creation that surround Mount Meru, home of the Hindu
gods.
The East Baray today contains no water; farmers till crops on its bed. But its outlines remain clearly visible in satellite photographs. In the middle of the baray is the East Mebon
temple, located on elevated ground that was an island in the days when the baray contained water.
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, oriented east-west and located just east of the walled city Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom , located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those...
. It was built around the year 900 AD during the reign of King Yasovarman
Yasovarman
Yasovarman I was an Angkorian king who reigned in 889–910 CE.-Early years:After the death of Indravarman I, a succession war was fought by his two sons. It's believed that the war was fought on land and on sea by the Tonle Sap. In the end Yasovarman I prevailed. Because of his father had sought...
. Fed by the Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
River flowing down from the Kulen Hills, it was the second-largest baray in the Angkor region, measuring roughly 7,150 by 1,740 meters and holding close to 50 million cubic meters of water. The labor and organization necessary for its construction were staggering: Its dikes contain roughly 8 million cubic meters of fill.
Stones bearing inscriptions that mark the construction of the baray have been found at all four of its corners. It was originally called Yashodharatataka, after its creator king.
Scholars are divided on the purpose of this and other barays. By some theories, they held water for irrigation, but no inscription has been found mentioning such a function. Other theories say that barays served primarily a symbolic purpose in Khmer
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
religious life, representing the seas of creation that surround Mount Meru, home of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
gods.
The East Baray today contains no water; farmers till crops on its bed. But its outlines remain clearly visible in satellite photographs. In the middle of the baray is the East Mebon
East Mebon
The East Mebon is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir....
temple, located on elevated ground that was an island in the days when the baray contained water.