Wat Nokor in detail

The southern doorway and pediment at Wat Nokor's inner sanctuary
The hair-cutting and horse release pediment of the southern doorway

To begin my look at the iconography at Wat Nokor, on the outskirts of Kompong Cham city, I'll start with the southern doorway and pediment of the central sanctuary. You'll recall that the eastern pediment is part of the modern vihara's main altar and much of the 13th century temple's carving was remodelled during the early part of the 16th century. The southern pediment is one such example of the remodelling that took place. I'm indebted to Vittorio Roveda and his marvellous Images of the Gods book for the analysis of the temple's iconography. The key illustration for the southern pediment is Buddha, wearing the simple clothes of a monk, cutting his long hair, as can be seen in the upper register of the pediment. He is protected from the flames above him by two attendants with parasols and two additional worshippers kneel either side of the future Buddha, Prince Siddhartha. The middle register displays a saddled horse with squire holding the bridle before freeing the animal; with more attendants in close proximity. The bottom register has seven kneeling devotees in a gesture of adoration with crowns, and above them, lotus buds hanging from the roof. The worn lintel below has a figure supporting the eroded Buddha, flanked by two prancing lions above a grinning kala. The colourful Buddha inside the doorway is of a modern variety.

The worn lintel with an eroded Buddha and two flanking lions

I was taking a picture and this tourist appeared from nowhere!!

The southern doorway of the outer gopura, with a badly-damaged lintel