“This is a lintel, made of sandstone. It originates from Siem Reap Province and was transferred for display and later registered into the collection of the National Museum. Based on the study of its carved patterns and other decorative elements, this lintel was made during the Angkorian period between the 10th and 12th centuries.
The decoration on this lintel is in two parts that divided it by a frame within the pieces. The first part is at the top, the second part below, with the main carved patterns are found. The first section above the frame is carved with the images of nine worshipping ascetics or divinities.
Each of them is house in niche in the shape of a lotus petal. The second section is deck with intertwined vertical elements, resembling sugarcane joins. They have two stems that diverge from a node at the center of the lintel. Each spread horizontally in opposite directions.
At the center, is the head of Rahu carved in a vertical oval niche. On the intertwined floral elements, artists added leaves pattern with six stems that line up in one straight line. Underneath, there are hanging festoon with curves ends. Some carved patterns at the center are missing and damaged, making it difficult for researchers to describe the history depicted.
In the history of Khmer architecture, lintels were mostly made of sandstone. They were usually sculpted in a rectangular shape to decorate the entrance, door or false door of a temple. Besides being a decorative element, they also serve a very important function which was to support the weight of the monument..”