The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, “the temple in the richness of the forest” in the Khmer language, has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries. The property consists of more than 100 temples, ten of which are uniquely octagonal. Decorated sandstone elements in the site are examples of the pre-Angkor decorative tradition, known as the Sambor Prei Kuk Style. The art and architecture that developed here became models for other parts of the region and lay the ground for the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period.
