Pre Rup
This pyramid temple is located at the north-south axis of the East Baray, 500 m to the south, dominating the east of Angkor,
The name of the lingam in the central tower, and also of the entire temple, was Rajendrabhadresvara ; which means: 'Shiva the protector of [King] Rajendravarman'.

Despite the fact that nobody really knows the meaning of the modern name Pre Rup, tour guides will explain it with unsavoury stories and "waste visitors' time" (Freeman/Jacques).

- Corpses were never burnt in a Shiva temple!

The towers
For the first time five towers, arranged in a quincunx, are on top of a steep pyramid. The tower in the Northeast is dedicated to Shiva again, in the Northwest to Uma, Shiva's consort, in the Southeast to Vishnu, and in the Southwest to Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort.
The central and eastern towers have male guardians; the western towers are guarded by devata (goddesses).
Lions are watching the east face of the top platform and the four stairways.

Enclosures
The quincunx is surrounded by twelve small brick towers at the second tier of the pyramid.
At the East of the first tier of the pyramid are two tower-shaped fire shrines, opened to west.
Between them is the big rectangular pedestal of a vanished Nandi statue.
The tier is enclosed by a laterite wall with four gate towers.
Along the wall is a chain of halls; in the Northeast is the pavilion of a stele.
Another enclosure wall is surrounding the base of the pyramid. Inside are five towers to the East (the sixth tower was never constructed) and halls to the other directions.
Doors and false doors have numerous lintels.

Leak Neang
200 m northeast, is located a small tower, one of probably many shrines, which surrounded the pyramid temple.

History
Past the Koh Ker era (921-941), King Rajendravarman brought the capital back to Angkor:
Pre Rup, consecrated 961, was the centre of a new capital, from which little remains.
F It is recommended to see this temple after visiting the East Mebon (which is 9 years older).
Pre Rup is a fine site for sun­set.

• Aerial view from southeast, courtesy of Dave Taylor
• The stele in the northeast corner
• Lion watching the east stairway 
• Leak Neang

• Maurice Glaize, The Monuments Of The Angkor Group, www.theangkorguide.com , p. 155-160.
• Henri Stierlin, Architektur der Welt Angkor, Lausanne, 1976, p. 139.
• Michael Freeman, Claude Jacques, Ancient Angkor , Bangkok, 2003, p. 158-160.
• Wikipedia