Joe Louis walks along the boardwalk
Neak Pean is a small shrine that doesn’t get much press when compared to other Angkor temples It is not an overwhelming temple, but it has the major qualities I think any good ancient should have:
- It has a unique character: Resting on a small island surrounded by four pools gives Neak Pean the status of the “water temple” and sets it apart. There are no other Ankgor temples on an island.
- It has a cool name: Neak Pean actually translates to “coiled serpent” which sounds like a badass gang with matching tattoos
- It relates to ancient philosophy and symbolism: The four pools supposedly represent the natural elements earth, wind, water and fire, with the shrine being balanced in the middle. Balance is always key (even if it is the water temple in the end)
- It has religious significance: like many of the temples, Neak Pean has both Hindu and Buddhist elements and its waters were thought to have special healing capabilities
- There are animal sculptures: each of the directional chapels has the head of an animal that represents a natural element – human for earth, horse for wind, elephant for water, and lion for fire
- It has a good entrance – like a night show host’s monologue, you want to come in strong. The boardwalk leading up to the shrine is a nice touch.
Small but solid. Neak Pean.
See what other blogs are saying about the water temple:
“Neak Pean means ‘coiled serpents’, which encircled the temple. Neak Pean was build in the direction of the statue of the horse, Balaha, which should save drowned sailors.The temple was dedicated to Buddha, but you can find also several Hindu images in it. People say the water in the pond have healing properties. Preah Khan was a kind of second city in the Angkorian empire. Neak Pean is very photogenic in the wet season when enough water is in the pools.
Neak Pean is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. The four connected pools represents the elemens fire, water, earth and wind. The ancients believed that going into these pools would b ehealthy by balancing the elements in the bather.”
–Visit Angkor
