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Pre-Angkorian period


Art forms from the Nokor Phbom (Fu-nan) and Tchen-la eras are Pre-Angkorian art. For greater ease of study, they are listed by styles. Thus, when referring to the Nokor Phnom era, one talks about the Phnom Da style and when referring to the Tchen-la era, about the Sambor Prei Kuk, Prei Khmeng and Kampong Preah styles.

Some art historians have identified an additional style from the Tchen-la era, the Prasat Andet style. But Jean Boisselier rejects it, as there is only one sculpture from this period, a Harihara (Ka. 1635) from the eponymous temple in Kampong Thom province.

It is generally accepted that National Museum, Phnom Penh does not own any female deities from the Phnom Da style, but that it owns several representations of Visnu from the same style. However, Jean Boisselier notes that, “we have only one female deity, Durga (Ka. 892), from the Phnom Da style”. The museum displays only two major pieces from the Sambor Prei Kuk style, a Durga (Ka.1583) and a Devi (Ka. 1621). After comparing the Dyrga (Ka. 892) that J. Boisselier studied with these two female deities, we recommend that its dating be amended and that it be listed as a Sambor Prei Kuk style work of art.

The Prei Khmeng and Kmpong Preah styles yield a number of representations of the Durga, which are rather similar to one another. They have in common the cylindrical mukuta and the folding of the sampot on the stomach.
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Sambor Prei Kuk style (600-650)

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Preah Ko style (875-893)

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