The beautiful devata of Angkor
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Bakong

Lolei

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bok

Preah Rup 		Goddeses, devata, apsara & queens - Apsara - Naga - Photo album
Banteay Srei

Prasat Wat Athvea

Bayon

Ta Som

Ta Prohm of Bati
Devata

In the beauty of eternal youth, devata are guarding and embellishing the temples. According to the customs of the period they are bare breasted. Their charm and sensuality are an obvious representation of the divine. They help to transform the man-made building into a sanctified area.

sensual

Devata show up for the first time at Trapeang Phong (early 9th century), Preah Ko (879),
and Bakong (881).

At Lolei ( 893) the guardians are standing in richly ornamented shrines. The dvarapala (guardians) of the central frontal tower are male figurers. They depict Shiva in his manifestation as his own guardian; they show Shiva himself.
The rear tower, dedicated to Uma, is guarded by devata. By their hairdo and their rich jewellery they are queens or goddesses.

Devata were also at the five towers on top of the Phnom Bakheng pyramid and at Phnom Bok.

Devata at Phnom Bok
Album Phnom Bok

poor

From the 10th century on devata become minor: at Prasat Thom (Koh Ker), Pre Rup (see below), Royal Palace, 'Small Temple', and - recovering - at the Baphuon (1060).

Pre Rup
At the north-west tower of Pre Rup ( 961) are stucco reliefs of Sarasvati, the four-faced spouse of Brahma, and the boar-faced spouse of Varaha, an incarnation of Vishnu as a boar. (Roveda 2005, p. 345.)

timeless

The devata at Banteay Srei.

classic

Devata at Angkor Wat - Album Angkor Wat

More devata of this era:
Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Prasat Wat Athvea, Preah Pithu Temple T and Temple U.

easy

Devata in Bayon style
The devata in the Bayon are deeper carved than in Angkor Wat. The figures get more relaxed, with their feet now in a natural position.

Bayon
Devata are distinguished by own temples and splendid crowns, adored by kneeling female figures.
Preah Thorani (Mae Dhorani) wringing her hair. (Preah Thorani is the Goddess of Earth whom the Buddha invokes by touching the Earth with his right hand.) (Roveda 2005. p. 234-236.) - Album Bayon

Nearly every temple of the Bayon era is adorned by Devata reliefs: Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prom, Preah Khan, Bayon, Prasat Chrung, Terrace of the Elephants, the Hospital Temples, Ta Som, Ta Nei, Krol Ko, Banteay Prei, Prasat Prei, Banteay Thom, Prasat Prei Prasat, Ta Prohm Bati, and Prasat Phnom Banan (near Battambang).

Don't call goddesses "apsara"!

"If a srei is called an Apsara, she is not really a good girl. " (Phalika Ngin). To call a srei (a young Khmer woman) an 'apsara' is disgusting.
Calling the devata 'apsara' is an insult, the worse that it has become so common. If normal visitors do this, it is just ignorance, but if scholars, other experts, authorities, or tour guides call the devata 'apsara' it is inexcusable.

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