The Devatas of Nokor

A devata at the eastern entrance under threat of a new green coat
Two different styles of devata, the one on the left carries a mirror, the other a flower bud

Wat Nokor was built during the reign of the master temple-builder, Jayavarman VII, at the beginning of the 13th century. And throughout the complex, an array of unique Devatas - also known as Apsaras, where the term seems to be interchangeable - can be found, with simplistic decoration or more intricate head-dresses. These are ravishing beauties, born of the Ocean of Milk and adding glamour and a fantasy element to the temples which they adorn. There are of course nearly two thousand of these deities on the walls of Angkor Wat but Wat Nokor has its share too and each one, as far as I could see, was unique.

A long-haired, almost dwarf-like devata standing on a large plinth
One of the more intricate head-dresses on a devata at Wat Nokor
One of the slim-waisted and sensuous devatas at Wat Nokor, with yellow lichen on the wall