Ijo Temple Still Keep The Mystery

Based on the inscription Poh, Ijo Temple is a Hindu temple complex character of Hamlet Groyokan, Sambirejo village, Prambanan sub-district, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta is named according to its location which is located on the hillside of rock called Mount Ijo. Coordinates temple at an altitude of 375 above sea level in -7.783795, 110.512079, or approximately 8.7 km from Prambanan Temple (20-30 minutes) and about 5 km from the complex of Ratu Boko (10-15 minutes). Ijo into the temple with the highest location in the province of Yogyakarta. This temple also makes Yogyakarta Adisucipto airport runway can not be extended to the east.

Ijo Temple, this temple was first discovered accidentally by a sugar mill Sorogedug administrator named HE Doorepaal when he was looking for land for planting sugarcane in 1886 Next CA Rosemeier also visited Ijo and found three stone statues. In 1887, Dr. J. Groneman conduct archaeological excavations in pitting the main temple. Obtained from the excavation of gold sheet inscribed, gold rings and some kind of grain.

Site Ijo Temple is located in this limestone hill have 11 terraces with different heights stretching from west to east. On the terraces of the temple is placed 17 clusters were divided into two types; covered and not covered. For buildings that are not expected as a roofed building with a wooden structure because there are found the remains of stone base.

Building the core of Ijo temple complex located on the top terrace, consisting of 1 main temple and three ancillary temples. The main temple building standing on the foot of the temple with a square-shaped ground-plan. Upon entering the main room, we are greeted by a pair of phallus and yoni are supported by figures snake spoon. It is said that this creature is a symbol of the earth buffer. While the union of the phallus and yoni symbolizes the unity between Shiva and Parvati shaktinya.

In the middle of the inner wall of the north, east and south, respectively, there is a niche. Each niche flanked by carvings on the walls depicting a pair of Apsara (nymph) which seem to fly in the direction of the niche.

While the main temple roof terraced like steps, formed from a rectangular arrangement increasingly upward decreasing. On each side there is a row of three jewel at each level. A larger jewel on the top of the roof. Along the boundary between the roof and walls of the temple decorated with a row of sculptures with a crisscross pattern between the tendrils and gana (gnomish). Along the edge of the roof is decorated with rows of antefiks with tendrils frame. In each frame there is a half-body statues depicting the gods in a variety of hand positions.