Phimeanakas

temple complex, Angkor, Cambodia

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July 2, 2026

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Phimeanakas is a temple located within the Angkor complex in Cambodia. It was built around the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I and served as part of the royal palace complex. The temple is a pyramid-shaped structure, characteristic of the "temple mountain" architectural style that was popular in Angkor. This style symbolized Mount Meru, the home of the gods in Hindu cosmology. Phimeanakas, along with other temples at Angkor, was constructed to honor kings and ensure their immortality by associating them with deities. The Angkor complex itself was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century.12

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Angkor
History
…pyramid temples), such as the Phimeanakas of Suryavarman I (reigned c. 1000–50); the Baphuon of Udayadityavarman II (reigned 1050–66); and the Buddhist temple of Bayon, which was the central temple built by Jayavarman VII when he gave the city, which was later known as Angkor Thom, or “Great City,” its…
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…pyramid temples), such as the Phimeanakas of Suryavarman I (reigned c. 1000–50); the Baphuon of Udayadityavarman II (reigned 1050–66); and the Buddhist temple of Bayon, which was the central temple built by Jayavarman VII when he gave the city, which was later known as Angkor Thom, or “Great City,” its…
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