cambodia crisis

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
1- THE LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE 2
2- THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IS UNDER THE SOVEREIGNTY OF CAMBODIA 3-9
(Judgment of the International Court of Justice ? 15 June 1962)
3- THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA PROPOSES THAT THE "SACRED SITE" OF THE TEMPLE
OF PREAH VIHEAR BE INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST 10
4- THE MEANING AND THE SCOPE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION 11
5- THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION RESPECTS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF STATES
AND THEIR RIGHTS 12
6- THE SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IS OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE 13 - 16
7- THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES ITS SUPPORT TO INSCRIBE
THE SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IN 2008 17 - 19
(31st session of the Committee - Christchurch, New Zealand - July 2007,
Decision No 31 COM 8B.24)
8- THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA IMPLEMENTS DECISION 31 COM 8B.24 OF THE WORLD
HERITAGE COMMITTEE 20 - 21
9- CAMBODIA AND THAILAND ENHANCE THEIR COOPERATION FOR THE INSCRIPTION OF THE TEMPLE
OF PREAH VIHEAR 22 - 31
10- THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR 32 ? 44

THE LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE
The Temple of Preah Vihear is an Angkorianera monument located in the northern province of Preah Vihear, 400 km
north of Phnom Penh and 140 km northwest of Angkor, in immediate proximity to Cambodia's border with the
Kingdom of Thailand.
The Temple is perched on the southern end of a 625 meter high rock promontory of the "Dangrek" mountain range.
From the top of this steep escarpment, it looks to the south over a vast plain stretching out below on the Cambodian
side. Beyond the plateau to the north, the terrain extends in a gentle slope towards Thailand.
THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IS UNDER THE SOVEREIGNTY OF CAMBODIA
(Judgment of the International Court of Justice ? 15 June 1962)
Through its petition submitted to the International Court of Justice (the Court) on 6 October 1959, the Cambodian
Government requested that the Court rule on a dispute over territorial sovereignty. In its judgment of 26 May 1961
the Court "upheld its jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the dispute" which it described in the following terms:
"In the present case, Cambodia alleges a violation on the part of Thailand of Cambodia's territorial sovereignty
over the region of the Temple of Preah Vihear and its precincts. Thailand replies by affirming that the area in
question lies on the Thai side of the common frontier between the two countries, and is under the sovereignty of
Thailand. This is a dispute about territorial sovereignty."
"The court can only give a decision as to the sovereignity over the Temple area often having examined what the
frontier line is".
MAPS were submitted to the Court and various considerations were brought to bear on this subject. The Court found
therein the reasons for the Decision that it would render to resolve the dispute.
The Court first noted that:
- The "Dangrek" mountain range wherein the Temple of Preah Vihear stands on a promontory, is in a general way
the border between the two countries in this region--Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the north;
- The border in this area of the "Dangreks" was subject to the relevant provisions of the 13 February 1904
Convention between FRANCE (as the protectorate power of CAMBODIA within French Indochina) and SIAM (as
THAILAND was then known);
- The exact delineation of this border was to be determined by a Franco-Siamese Mixed Commission.
The Court then pointed out that:
- A new Border Treaty had been signed on 23 March 1907 between Siam and France;
- A second Mixed Border Delimitation Commission had then been established;
3
- A Map (referred to by the Court as Annex I Map) shows the delineation of the border as the result of delimita-
tion work and locates THE ENTIRE PROMONTORY OF PREAH VIHEAR, INCLUDING THE TEMPLE ZONE,
WITHIN CAMBODIAN TERRITORY.
"Thailand denies this so far as she is concerned, representing herself as having adopted a merely passive attitude
in what ensued. She maintains also that a course of conduct, involving at most a failure to object, cannot suffice to
render her a consenting party to a departure at Preah Vihear from the watershed line specified by Article I of the
Treaty of 1904, so great as to affect the sovereignty of the Temple area."
"The Court sees the matter differently" because:
"The maps were given wide publicity in all technically interested quarters by being also communicated to the
leading geographical societies in important countries; to the Siamese legations accredited to the British,
German, Russian and United States Governments; and to all the members of the Mixed Commission, French
and Siamese;"
Map designated by the International Court of Justice as the Annex I map
representing the frontier line in 1908 (Ref. maps in details on pages 7 ? 8)
4
"The Court cannot accept these contentions either on the facts or the law", which Thailand "suggested during
the oral proceedings that no one in Siam at that time knew anything about the Temple or would be troubling
about it."
"It is an established rule of law that the plea of error cannot be allowed as an element of vitiating consent if
the party advancing it contributed by its own conduct to the error."
The Court raised the question:
"THE REAL QUESTION, THEREFORE, WHICH IS THE ESSENTIAL ONE IN THIS CASE, IS WHETHER THE PARTIES
DID ADOPT THE ANNEX I MAP, AND THE LINE INDICATED ON IT, AS REPRESENTING THE OUTCOME OF THE WORK
OF DELIMITATION OF THE FRONTIER IN THE REGION OF PREAH VIHEAR, THEREBY CONFERRING ON IT A BIND-
ING CHARACTER" (p.22, par.3 Reports of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders, International Court of Justice - Case Concerning
the Temple of Preah Vihear - Judgment of 15 June 1962);
The Court anwsered:
1."THE COURT HOWEVER CONSIDERS THAT THAILAND IN 1908 -1909 DID ACCEPT THE ANNEX I MAP
AS REPRESENTING THE OUTCOME OF THE WORK OF DELIMITATION, AND HENCE RECOGNIZED THE
LINE ON THAT MAP AS BEING THE FRONTIER LINE, THE EFFECT OF WHICH IS TO SITUATE PREAH
VIHEAR IN CAMBODIAN TERRITORY" (p.32, par.5 of the same Report of Judgment, Advisory Opinions and Orders men-
tioned above).
2.BOTH PARTIES, BY THEIR CONDUCT, RECOGNIZED THE LINE AND THEREBY IN EFFECT AGREED TO
REGARD IT AS BEING THE FRONTIER LINE" (p.33, par.1 of the same Report of Judgment, Advisory Opinions and
Orders mentioned above).
3."THE COURT CONSIDERS THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE ANNEX I MAP BY THE PARTIES CAUSED THE
MAP TO ENTER THE TREATY SETTLEMENT AND TO BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF IT" (p.33, par.4 of
the same Report of Judgment, Advisory Opinions and Orders mentioned above).
4."THE COURT, THEREFORE, FEELS BOUND, AS A MATTER OF TREATY INTERPRETATION, TO PRO-
NOUNCE IN FAVOR OF THE LINE AS MAPPED IN THE DISPUTED AREA" (p.35, par.3 of the same Report of
Judgment, Advisory Opinions and Orders mentioned above).
5
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
J U D G M E N T of 15 June 1962
"FOR THESE REASONS,
THE COURT,
By nine votes to three,
FINDS THAT THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IS SITUATED IN TERRITORY UNDER THE SOVEREIGNTY
OF CAMBODIA."
Remarks:
The above text basically summarizes the judgment that the International Court of Justice published in its "Reports
of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders," under the heading CASE CONCERNING THE TEMPLE OF
PREAH VIHEAR (CAMBODIA vs THAILAND) ? Merits ? Judgment of 15 June 1962 ? ICJ. Case report, p. 6-37.
The United Nations Charter signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, under the provisions respecting the
STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, stipulates the following:
Article 60:
The judgment is final and without appeal.
Article 61, paragraph 5:
No application for revision may be made after the LAPSE OF TEN YEARS from the date of the judg-
ment.
6
3 THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA PROPOSES THAT THE SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE
OF PREAH VIHEAR BE INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
As State Party to the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (commonly referred
to as the 1972 Convention or World Heritage Convention), since November 1991, the Kingdom of Cambodia
presented to UNESCO to inscribe the SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR on the World Heritage
List.
In a letter dated 10 October 2001, His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka
Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN Sen, informed the Director General of UNESCO, His Excellency Mr Ko?chiro
MATSUURA, of the Royal Government's decision to propose this inscription.
Subsequently, a complete portfolio in compliance with the Operational Guidelines of the Kingdom of Cambodia for
the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention was prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, with
the technical advice and active assistance of UNESCO (Cultural Section and Office in Phnom Penh).
This portfolio was submitted to the World Heritage Center (UNESCO-Paris) on 30 January 2006.
10
4 EANING AND SCOPE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
As noted by the members of the World Heritage Committee in the "Budapest Declaration" adopted on 28 June 2002,
during the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage and on the thirtieth anniversary of the 1972 Convention:
"The properties on the World Heritage List are assets held in trust to pass on to generations of the future as their
rightful inheritance;"
"The 1972 World Heritage Convention is an instrument for the sustainable development of all societies
through DIALOGUE and MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING."
This Convention adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on 16 November 1972, states in:
- Article 6, that property inscribed constitutes a world heritage, for whose protection it is the duty of the inter-
national community as a whole to co-operate;
- Article 7, that international protection of the world heritage shall be understood to mean the establishment of
a system of international co-operation and assistance designed to CONSERVE AND IDENTIFY THAT HER-
ITAGE.
- Article 27, that the States Parties shall endeavor by all appropriate means to strengthen APPRECIATION and
RESPECT of the HERITAGE by their peoples.
11
5 THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION RESPECTS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATES
AND THEIR RIGHTS
Article 6, the Convention states that State Parties fully respect the sovereignty of the State in whose territory
the heritage is situated.
Article 11, paragraph 3 of the Convention is an essential provision to avoid conflicts and contestations:
"The inclusion of a property situated in a territory, sovereignty or jurisdiction over which is
claimed by more than one State, shall in no way prejudice the rights of the parties to the dis-
pute."
Paragraph 106 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention:
"Where no buffer zone is proposed, the nomination should include a statement as to why a buffer
zone is not required".
12
6 THE SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IS OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL
VALUE
A non-governmental advisory organization with the World Heritage Committee, the International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is in charge of evaluating proposals for the inscription of cultural property.
In accordance with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention,
ICOMOS performs "evaluations that are OBJECTIVE, RIGOROUS and SCIENTIFIC, with a consistent level of
professionalism."
Pursuant to a technical mission carried out on the sacred site of the Temple of Preah Vihear by the ICOMOS repre-
sentative from 23 to 29 October 2006, and to additional information requested by ICOMOS and submitted by
Cambodia, on 3 January 2007, ICOMOS approved as of 21 January 2007, the following evaluation:
ICOMOS considers that the site's OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED.
And that the property is in keeping with criteria I, II and IV,
Criterion I
"Preah Vihear is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It is very `pure' both in plan and in the detail of
its decoration"
Criteron II
"Preah Vihear demonstrates an important interchange in human values and developments in art, architecture,
planning and landscape design"
13
Criterion IV
"The architectural ensemble is exceptional in its representation of Buddhist geometry. The position of the Temple on
a cliff edge site is particularly impressive. Stairs and historical access surviving for over a thousand years show a
sophisticated technological understanding. The whole historic structure demonstrates the highpoint of a significant
state in human history."
Consequently, ICOMOS recommends that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia) be
included on the World Heritage List.
14
7 THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES ITS SUPPORT TO INSCRIBE
THE SACRED SITE OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR IN 2008
(31st session of the Committee - Christchurch, New Zealand - July 2007, Decision No 31 COM 8B.24)
During its 31st regular session held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 23 June to 2 July 2007, the World Heritage
Committee examined all the documents relating to the proposal to inscribe the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah
Vihear on the World Heritage List.
The Committee first of all took note of the following statement made by the Chairman of the World Heritage
Committee, approved by the delegation from Cambodia and the delegation from Thailand:
"The State Party of Cambodia and the State Party of Thailand are in full agreement that the Sacred Site of the
Temple of Preah Vihear has Outstanding Universal Value and must be inscribed on the World Heritage
List as soon as possible. Accordingly, Cambodia and Thailand agree that Cambodia will propose the site for formal
inscription on the World Heritage List at the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in 2008 with the
active support of Thailand."
The Committee then recognized:
"That the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear is of great international significance and has
Outstanding Universal Value under criteria (i), (ii) and (iv)" and agreed "in principle that it should be
inscribed on the World Heritage List and noted that the process for inscription is in progress."
The Committee concluded by requesting the State Party Cambodia:
"To strengthen conservation and management at the site by making progress in developing an appropriate
management plan, which progress will enable its formal inscription by the Committee at its 32nd Session in 2008;"
and "to submit a progress report to the World Heritage Center, by 1 February 2008."
17
They understand, following consultation with the World Heritage Centre, that finan-
World Heritage 31 COM cial and technical assistance for the development of a management plan will be
available through the World Heritage Centre's International Assistance programme."
WHC-07/31.COM/24
Paris, 31 July 2007 3. Recognises that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear is of great internation-
Original : French / English al significance and has Outstanding Universal Value on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and
(iv), agrees in principle that it should be inscribed on the World Heritage List and notes
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, DCIENTIFIC AND that the process for inscription is in progress;
CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
4. Requests the State Party of Cambodia to strengthen conservation and management
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF plan, which progress in developing an appropriate management plan, which progress
THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
will enable its formal inscription by the Committee at its 32nd Session in 2008;
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
5. Further requests the State Party of Cambodia to submit a progress report to the World
Thirty-First Session
Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2008.
Christchurch, New Zealand
23 June ? 2 July 2007
Decision: 31 COM 8B.24 Chairperson statement
at the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee
Christchurch, New Zealand
TEXT
This decision means that the committee has agreed that this Sacred Site deserves
1. The World Heritage Committee, Having examined documents WHC-07/31.COM/8B to be included in the World Heritage List and that its formal listing will take place
and WHC-07/31.COM/NF.8B.1, at its next session in 2008, and I request that my remarks are included in the final
2. Having taking note of the following statement by the Chair of the World Heritage report of this meeting along with the decision.
Committee which has been agreed to by the Delegation of Cambodia and the
Delegation of Thailand:
"The State Party of Cambodia and the State Party of Thailand are in full agreement
that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear has Outstanding Universal Value
and must be inscribed on the World Heritage List as soon as possible. Accordingly,
Cambodia and Thailand agree that Cambodia will propose the site for formal inscrip-
tion on the World Heritage List at the 32nd Session of the World Heritage
Committee in 2008 with the active support of Thailand. Mr. Tumu Te Heuheu
Chairman of the World Heritage
They also agree that the site is in need of urgent attention and requires interna- Committee
tional financial and technical assistance and close cooperation between them.
They further agree that it is essential to strengthen conservation and management
at the site including by the development of an appropriate management plan, as
required under paragraph 108 of the Operational Guidelines, that will ensure the
future protection of this property.
19
THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA IMPLEMENTS DECISION 31 COM 8B.24 OF THE WORLD
HERITAGE COMMITTEE
The Royal Government of Cambodia created a public institution, the National Authority for the Protection and
Development of the Preah Vihear Natural and Cultural Site (Autorit? Nationale pour la Protection et le
D?veloppement du site culturel et naturel de Preah Vihear - ANPV) and has provided it with the human and
financial resources as well as the legal and statutory capacity to:
Reinforce CONSERVATION OF THE SITE and move forward in developing an appropriate MANAGEMENT PLAN
for this site.
In order to implement the aforementioned decision of the Committee in the best possible conditions, the ANPV
conducted a number of appraisal and technical analysis missions on the Preah Vihear site from September 2007 to
January 2008. These high-level missions were made possible due to the kind commitment and generous contribu-
tion of Belgium, the United States of America, France and India, whose distinguished experts also benefited from
valuable input by colleagues from China, Japan and Thailand, as well as the International Centre for the Study of
the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
The missions resulted in the preparation of a PROGRESS REPORT forwarded to the World Heritage Centre
(UNESCO) on 28 January 2008.
This document was complemented by a SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT following up on the "Meeting of experts regard-
ing conservation and management procedures for the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear ," held at UNESCO
Headquarters on 25 and 26 March 2008, at the invitation of the Deputy Director for Culture, Her Excellency
Ms. Fran?oise RIVI?RE.
This latter report was forwarded to the Centre on May 13, 2008.
20
9 CAMBODIA AND THAILAND ENHANCE THEIR COOPERATION FOR THE INSCRIPTION
OF THE TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR
In a spirit of friendship, neighborliness and mutual understanding between the two countries, the Royal Government
of Cambodia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand have been working together in recent months to
strengthen dialogue and consultation in a number of areas of mutual interests.
These fruitful developments focus in particular on inscribing the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR on the
World Heritage List in 2008.
Thailand has confirmed its decision, as expressed at the 31st Session of the World Heritage Committee held in
Christchurch (New Zealand, 23 June to 2 July 2007), to support the inscription of the Sacred Site of the Temple
of Preah Vihear.
This confirmation was made:
1) Firstly, by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Samak Sundaravej, on the
occasion of his visit to Phnom Penh on 3 and 4 March 2008 at the invitation of His Excellency Samdech Akka
Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia;
3 March 2008 14 May 2008
22
2) Then by a press release published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on 11
March 2008;
3) In a joint press release issued on 6 May 2008 at the conclusion of a working meeting on the subject of the
Temple of Preah Vihear attended by a Cambodian delegation led by His Excellency Mr. SOK An, Deputy Prime
Minister, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and a Thai Delegation led by His Excellency
Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
4) During a t?te ? t?te meeting between His Excellency Mr. SOK An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the
Office of the Council of Ministers, and His Excellency Mr Noppadon Pattama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on 14 May 2008, on the occasion of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for
National Highway No. 48 (Koh Kong-Sre Ambel), presided over by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of
Cambodia, His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and His Excellency Mr Somchai
Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Senior Representative of the Government of the
Kingdom of Thailand;
5) And finally, during a meeting in Paris (France) on 22 May 2008 between a Cambodian delegation led by His
Excellency Mr. SOK An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and a
Thai Delegation led by His Excellency Mr. Noppadon Pattama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the
Kingdom of Thailand in the presence of a number of UNESCO eminent members, led by Her Excellency the Deputy
Director General of UNESCO for Culture, Mrs Fran?oise RIVIERE. The Kingdom of Thailand reconfirmed its
support for the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List at the 32nd
Session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Quebec, Canada in July 2008. For it part, the
Kingdom of Cambodia, in a spririt of goodwill and conciliation, accepted to inscribe the Temple of
Preah Vihear on the List of the World Heritage, at this stage, without a buffer zone on the north and
west of the Temple.
The documents herewith illustrate the development of this most productive process.
23
26
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
On May 6, 2008 His Excellency Mr. SOK An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of
Ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, welcomed his Excellency Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary of the
Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand accompanied by a Thai delegation during their visit
to Phnom Penh.
The meeting was conducted in a fruitful and constructive atmosphere to discuss ways and means of strengthening
the neighborly cooperation for a further reach for long lasting cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand.
Both sides agreed to fulfill commitments envisaged in the Decision of the 31st Session of the World Heritage
Committee to ensure Cambodia's formal inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List at the
32nd Session in July 2008.
The Kingdom of Cambodia strongly stresses that the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear is without prejudice
to the demarcation work of the Cambodian-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) between
Cambodia and Thailand; and the zoning ("Zonage" in French) stipulated in the document submitted by Cambodia to
UNESCO shall not be considered as boundary line.
Phnom Penh May 6, 2008
29
THE NATURAL SITE THE FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION ACT
The history of the founding of the temple of Preah Vihear is known thanks for the five
inscriptions. The first found at Angkor and the four others on the site of the Temple of
Preah Vihear.
Inscription K583 (found at Angkor) teaches us that at the beginning of the ninth century,
Indrayudha received the god ?iva order to bring to the site of Preah Vihear a "linga",
extracted from the large stone "linga" on the mountain Vat Phu (Indrapura).
This linga was named ?ikhare?vara,
"Lord of the SUMMIT".
Inscription K380 affirm that "?ri Bhadre?vara of
Lingapura (Wat Phu) has been reborn at ?ri ?ikhare?vara
(Preah Vihear) ... to show its power in a visible fashion,
so that the world can admire".
The site of Wat Phu from where comes "The Lord of the
Summit"
38
THE NATURAL SITE AN OPEN LANDSCAPE
AN OPEN LANDSCAPE OF VAST PLAINS
The temple of Preah Vihear is built on a promontory that extends to the south.
The shrine opens to the sky and stands at the apex of a triangular piece of high ground
jutting out into the plain it "dominates".
A VIEW OF THREE SUMMITS
A promontory framed by two ranges of mountains at each side presents a spectacle of
three majestic peaks.
THE THREE SUMMITS: A SYMBOLIC MEANING
The natural and spectacular setting of the three summits six hundred meters above of and
overlooking the plain was - according to some experts ? an invocation of the spirit of the
founders of the Devine Trinity in Hinduism:
VISHNU - SHIVA - BRAHMA
The symbolic value of the site revealed by the inscriptions takes in its full meaning.
Distant view of successive summits: the promontory on which stands the Temple of Preah
Vihear, is in the middle.
39
LANDSCAPE
VISUAL LIMITS
A panoramic view of Preah Vihear opens to the south, towards the plain.
From the site, the panorama opens to the horizon offering a discovery of
the plain as a whole.
The panoramic view is limited to the east and the west by the massive
ranges of mountains.
The panoramic composition of the site, extending the visual boundaries
from the monument to the plain, provided a particular meaning to the
entire scenery.
A LANDSCAPE OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HIGH VALUE
The discovery of the majestic site of the Temple of Preah Vihear from the
plain by arriving from the South was a rare experience.
The plain set between the massive ranges of mountains constitutes a
breathtaking landscape of high natural and cultural value. View from the rocky outstretch of the promontory to the South-West and the village
of Kor 1 below.
Scenic view from the promontory to the plain, extending to the horizon and rolling between massive ranges of mountains from the east and the west.
40
DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT MAIN STRUCTURES
The temple of Preah Vihear presents an axial
plan having 800 meters in length with suc-
cessive and alternate "gopuras" and pave-
ments leading to the central shrine.
The north-south orientation of this axis is rel-
atively uncommon due to the (topography) of
the site.
THE GOPURA V:
A cruciform building consists of square
pillars and gables that supported a double
slope slide roof made of wood.
THE GOPURA IV:
This Gopura is also a cruciform building.
The gables support two superimposed orn-
ments.
THE GOPURA III:
This Gopura in cruciform plan opens to the
south by three doors. It is flanked by two
symmetrical galleries in U-shaped form and
ended by a long hall.
THE GOPURA II:
This Gopura, also in cruciform plan, is
followed by the east and west galleries. The
whole setting is a U-shaped delimiting a
courtyard with a large rectangular room and
pillars.
To the east and west of this room are the two
"libraries".
THE GOPURA I and the first courtyard:
The large rectangular room with pillars made
up the first gopura.
It opens on a central courtyard of vaulted
galleries at the center of which stands the
sanctuary with a collapsed central tower.
41
DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT THE SECONDARY STRUCTURES
The water management works designed to complement the main structures of the monument demonstrate the
ingenuity of Khmer engineering in the vital field of water management. These works, sometimes, gigantic are
important to understand and to appreciate of monument.
WATER WORKS
THE GREAT BASIN:
A large east ? west direction dam made of
blocks of sandstone on both sides of a small
valley to the north, forms a large basin which
receives all the waters of the west side of the
promontory bearing the temple.
THE WEST PAVEMENT:
The holding wall on the upper side of the
pavement is connected to a canal cut through
the rock which drains the water into a recepta-
cle and pours it into the large basin located in
low area.
THE MAIN RESERVOIR:
It measures 36 meters by 18 meters. This reser-
voir is partly cut in the rock and has walls of
steps made from blocks of sandstone. It is fed
by the rain waters of the east side of the plateau.
THE SMALL RESERVOIR:
A second, square-shaped reservoir of 9.5 meters
each side, with walls of steps made from blocks
of sandstone is located just above the main
reservoir. It is fed from the south with the rain
water from the area of the lion's head.
OTHER WORKS:
The entire water management system is not
understood today. Other reservoirs and pipe
works appear in several locations and have yet
to be studied.
42
DESCRIPTION OF MONUMENT COMPLEMENTARY WORKS
The main and secondary structures are connected to each other by complementary structures (pavements and
stairs) and are accompanied by water management infrastructure (basins and gutters). These structures constitute
integral parts of the monument.
COMPLEMENTARY WORKS
THE MAIN STAIRCASE:
The monumental staircase climbs the escarpment
leading to the plateau on which the temple stands.
It has 159 steps; half of each step is made of
blocks of sandstone and the other half is carved in
the rock.
THE WEST PAVEMENT:
This pavement of north-west south-east direction
was built on the broken slope of the escarpment
and against the line of sandstone short walls, lead-
ing to the foot of the "nagas" pavement.
THE NAGAS PAVEMENT:
The monumental staircase ends at a 25 meter long
pavement, itself bordered by railings made of
gigantic nagas.
THE EAST STAIRCASE:
The 10 meter-wide East staircase begins at
Gopura V and descend 400 meters along east side
of the escarpment of the promontory. Built in the
10th century, the staircase is in a very poor condi-
tion.
THE MAIN PAVEMENT:
It is beyond Gopura V, and was built against the
side walls of sandstone blocks in its northern part,
and cut into the rock in its southern part with rail-
ings of short pillars. It is 244 meters long and
leads to the Gopura IV.
THE SMALL PAVEMENT:
This pavement is 150 meters long, spanning
between Gopura III and IV with railings of short
pillars and other unidentifiable structures which
remain to be studied.
43
THE ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION THE DECORATIVE THEMES
The temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to Shiva.
The topics covered are vishnouite and shivaite. They provide an idea of religious
practice at the time of their creation.
One may be surprised to see so many vishnouite representations in a temple dedicat-
ed to the god Shiva.
The most beautiful stone-carved decorations of the temple are on the "lintels" and
doors "enfilade".
THE TYMPANS
The doors "enfilade" are rich with scenes of mythology: churning of the sea of milk,
Khrishna Govardhan.
On several gates, the decorative motif of the doors "enfilade" is the same as the lintel.
Tympan on Gopura IV: barratage the sea of milk, Khrishna Govardhan.
This recalls the d?coration on the doors of the libraries at Phnom Chisor.
THE LINTELS
Several compositions of different types exist in Preah Vihear.
One is built around a central motif, almost always a head of kala or lion, which
develops into a symmetrical decoration.
Others are organized around a branch that is bending around creating more room for
the decorative motif.
Still others present in their center a small scene.
The mask or head of "Kala" is one of the elements of the decorative features of
Preah Vihear. They are directly inspired by the iconography of the temple of Banteay
Srei.
The lintel of Gopura IV: Khrishna tue Kala
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