The Western Top Temple’s Stone Blocks

About 250 m south-west of the Bayon, Prasat Tep Lech (ប្រាសាទ ទាប លិច, ​‘the short temple to the west’, often called Western Top (or Tob) Temple in English; this is not the original name of the edifice) is a case study in how Angkorean monuments have been modified through times to fit new religious practices.

Contrary to the general idea that this smaller temple, consisting of three towers and one eastern Buddhist terrace, had been erected in the ​“Bayon style”, the author stresses similarities with Banteay Srei temple. After a thorough study led thanks to the Nara Institute with Apsara National Authority, the author concludes, while announcing further research: ​‘From some decorated sandstone blocks found inside the southern tower and its basement, it can be assumed that some of the Western Top temple’s stone blocks were probably brought from the Bayon temple, after some parts of the Bayon temple fell down.’