THE ELEPHANTS AND LIONS OF THE EAST MEBON TEMPLE

East Mebon is a temple dedicated to Shiva, here you can find a number of elephant statues that adorned the lower levels of the terrace. A bit of climbing needed to get to the highest level.
This temple precedes the Pre Rup temple which has a very similar architecture and was built during the reign of same king ( Rajendra Varman II in 952AD). The art style of East Mebon is also known as Pre Rup style. This temple is built using Khmer materials namely sandstones, bricks, laterite and stucco. The Stairways are guarded by Lions and there are monolothic elephants in each corner of first and second tiers.
Climb to the top plaza and pay attention to the window openings and lintels. Where they have separated or fallen you will see how the stone windows are fashioned with tongues that fit into mating grooves and lintels have holes that match their posts.