The Western Mebon

Likely constructed in the second half of the 11th century, based on its bas-reliefs, which are devoid of inscriptions and in the style of Baphuon, the Western Mebon temple stands as a true gem of authenticity and originality within the Angkor Archaeological Park. It is located along a perfect axis, 10 km west of Ta Prohm.

Raised on an artificial island, the temple has the unique characteristic of being built in the center of the largest baray, or water reservoir, of the ancient Angkor capital, the Western Baray. These 1,759 hectares fill up every rainy season, which is rather substantial, creating the illusion of a temple seemingly built in the middle of the water. It is accessible by boat during the monsoon season and by land during the dry season.

A century of restorations

The first restoration of the Western Mebon temple took place just 100 years ago, in 1920. The monument had been covered by vegetation, and swamps had formed around it after centuries of abandonment. In 1936, the Angkor conservator Maurice Glaize discovered the largest Khmer bronze sculpture ever made, which is still preserved today at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. This work represents the Hindu god Vishnu, a member of the Trimurti. Later, Glaize continued overseeing the restoration of the temple, especially the enclosing walls and the temple's towers.

Since 2012, the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO), in partnership with APSARA (the Authority for the Protection and Management of the Angkor Region), has been studying, researching, and working on-site to restore this iconic temple of Angkorian culture.

A protective dike had to be built ahead of the restoration work to prevent the baray from overflowing and to protect the worksite during the rainy season. The renovations of the 1940s quickly deteriorated, and despite the aesthetic outcome, the remains needed to be reworked by 2012. To prevent further degradation, the EFEO decided to consolidate the base of the temple and the island, specifically the steps of the basin that support the towers and walls. The "east" phase was completed in 2017, with 127 workers who could only work when the weather permitted, between March and May. Wet soil from the rainy season or underground water prevented the compaction of backfill for dismantling work. The "north" and "south" phases were subsequently initiated.

Despite the ongoing work, the temple remains open to the public, allowing visitors to admire this restoration effort and the enigmatic island temple.

Architecture

Influenced by Hinduism, the temple does not have a central sanctuary like its counterpart, the Eastern Mebon to the east. The temple's entrance walls were approximately 100 meters long, forming a square around towers decorated with stone lotus flowers. Today, much of these walls have disappeared, but portions are still visible, and three towers remain standing, placed strictly 28 meters apart. There is no central sanctuary, but rather a platform that would have once supported the weight of a relatively light structure. The main attraction of the site is, of course, its isolation in the middle of the water, with the statue of Vishnu having been transferred to Phnom Penh.