Ta Keo was the state temple of Jayavarman V, son of Rajendravarman, who had built Pre Rup.

Its particularly massive appearance is due to the absence of external decorations, as carving had just begun when the work stopped,[1] besides an elaborate use of perspective effects.

The main axis of the temple is east-west and a 500 meters long causeway connects its eastern entrance to a landing stage on the East Baray, with which Ta Keo was in a tight relationship.

More towards the central axis[5] there are two little sandstone "libraries", opening to the west, with false windows on upper storeys.

At the foot of the eastern one there is a statue of a kneeling Nandi, which confirms that Ta Keo was a Shivaite temple.

[6] The four corner towers on the summit stand on 0.8 m high basements and open to the four cardinal points with protruding vestibules.

When he was 17 (in 975), he began the construction of his own state temple, whose modern name is Ta Keo, that was dedicated some time around 1000.

[9]: 135  Yogisvarapandita, a high priest who became minister of Suryavarman I and "received" the temple from him many years later, says in inscriptions that a lightning strike hit the unfinished building, an evil omen, so the work stopped.