by

Majestic Angkor Wat

Introduction

Angkor derives from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘holy city’; ‘Wat’ in Khmer means ‘temple’. Angkor Wat, located 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap in northeast Cambodia represents a whole complex of wonderful temples and stonemasonry and artwork throughout this area. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia besides being the single largest religious structure in the world, and surely one of the world’s wonders of art and architecture.
Majestic Angkor Wat

The temples of Angkor were built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD. From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. Within an area of 120 sq. miles, the ruins contain some of the most imposing monuments in the world, including about a thousand temples, mainly Hindu and some Buddhist; the ancient city, however, had an extent some three times that size, and was home to perhaps 750,000 people. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings – palaces, public buildings, and houses – were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared. Angkor Wat was re-discovered by a French man about 150 years ago among heavy forestry, ready to become one of the most visited archaeological and artistic sites on the planet.

History

The initial design and construction of Angkor Wat took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113 – c. 1150). Dedicated to Vishnu, it was built as the king’s state temple and capital city. As neither the foundation nor any contemporary inscriptions referring to the temple have been found, its original name is unknown, but it may have been known as Vrah Vishnulok after the presiding deity. Work seems to have ended shortly after the king’s death, leaving some of the bas-relief decoration unfinished. In 1177, approximately 27 years after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by the Chams, the traditional enemies of the Khmer. Thereafter the empire was restored by a new king, Jayavarman VII, who established a new capital and state temple (Angkor Thom and the Bayon respectively) a few kilometres to the north.

In the late 13th century, Angkor Wat gradually moved from Hindu to Theravada Buddhist use, which continues to the present day. Angkor Wat is unusual among the Angkor temples in that although it was somewhat neglected after the 16th century it was never completely abandoned, its preservation being due in part to the fact that its moat also provided some protection from encroachment by the jungle.

The true history of Angkor Wat was pieced together only from stylistic and epigraphic evidence accumulated during the clearing and restoration work carried out across the whole Angkor site. There were no ordinary dwellings or houses or other signs of settlement including cooking utensils, weapons, or items of clothing usually found at ancient sites. Instead there is the evidence of the monuments themselves.

Angkor Wat required considerable restoration in the 20th century, mainly the removal of accumulated earth and vegetation. Work was interrupted by the civil war and Khmer Rouge control of the country during the 1970s and 1980s, but relatively little damage was done during this period other than the theft and destruction of mostly post-Angkorian statues.

The temple is a powerful symbol of Cambodia, and is a source of great national pride that has factored into Cambodia’s diplomatic relations with its neighbour Thailand, France and the United States. The splendid artistic legacy of Angkor Wat and other Khmer monuments in the Angkor region led directly to France adopting Cambodia as a protectorate on 11 August 1863. This quickly led to Cambodia reclaiming lands in the northwestern corner of the country that had been under Thai control since the Thai invasion of 1431 AD. Cambodia gained independence from France on 9 November 1953 and has controlled Angkor Wat since that time.

Angkor Wat Today

Since the 1990s, Angkor Wat has seen continued conservation efforts and a massive increase in tourism. The temple is part of the Angkor World Heritage Site, established in 1992, which has provided some funding and has encouraged the Cambodian government to protect the site. A survey found that around 20% of the devatas were in very poor condition, mainly because of natural erosion and deterioration of the stone but in part also due to earlier restoration efforts. Other work involves the repair of collapsed sections of the structure, and prevention of further collapse.

Angkor Wat has become a major tourist destination. In 2004 and 2005, government figures suggest that, respectively, 561,000 and 677,000 foreign visitors arrived in Siem Reap province, approximately 50% of all foreign tourists in Cambodia for both years. The influx of tourists has so far caused relatively little damage, other than some graffiti; ropes and wooden steps have been introduced to protect the bas-reliefs and floors, respectively. Tourism has also provided some additional funds for maintenance—as of 2000 approximately 28% of ticket revenues across the whole Angkor site was spent on the temples—although most work is carried out by foreign government sponsored teams rather than by the Cambodian authorities.

Architecture and Style

Angkor Wat is the prime example of the classical style of Khmer architecture—the Angkor Wat style—to which it has given its name. By the 12th century Khmer architects had become skilled and confident in the use of sandstone (rather than brick or laterite) as the main building material. Most of the visible areas are of sandstone blocks, while laterite was used for the outer wall and for hidden structural parts.

Angkor Wat is a unique combination of the temple mountain, the standard design for the empire’s state temples, the later plan of concentric galleries, and influences from Orissa and the Chola of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods: the central quincunx of towers symbolises the five peaks of the mountain, and the walls and moat the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean. Access to the upper areas of the temple was progressively more exclusive, with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level.
Angkor Wat Aerial

Angkor Wat has drawn praise above all for the harmony of its design, which has been compared to the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. According to Maurice Glaize, a mid-20th-century conservator of Angkor, the temple “attains a classic perfection by the restrained monumentality of its finely balanced elements and the precise arrangement of its proportions. It is a work of power, unity and style.”

Features

Outer enclosure: The outer wall is surrounded by open ground and a moat. Access to the temple is by an earth bank to the east and a sandstone causeway to the west; the latter, the main entrance, is a later addition, possibly replacing a wooden bridge. The outer wall encloses a space, which besides the temple proper was originally occupied by the city and, to the north of the temple, the royal palace. Like all secular buildings of Angkor, these were built of perishable materials rather than of stone, so nothing remains of them except the outlines of some of the streets. Most of the area is now covered by forest.

Central structure: The temple stands on a terrace raised higher than the city. It is made of three rectangular galleries rising to a central tower, each level higher than the last. Each gallery has a gopura (a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple) at each of the points, and the two inner galleries each have towers at their corners, forming a quincunx.

The outer gallery has pavilions rather than towers at the corners. The gallery is open to the outside of the temple, with columned half-galleries extending and buttressing the structure. Connecting the outer gallery to the second enclosure on the west side is a cruciform cloister called Preah Poan (the “Hall of a Thousand Buddhas”). This area has many inscriptions relating the good deeds of pilgrims, most written in Khmer but others in Burmese and Japanese. The four small courtyards marked out by the cloister may originally have been filled with water. North and south of the cloister are libraries.

Hall of Thousand Buddhas

Beyond, the second and inner galleries are connected to each other and to two flanking libraries by another cruciform terrace, again a later addition. From the second level upwards, devatas abound on the walls, individually or in groups of up to four. The second-level enclosure may originally have been flooded to represent the ocean around Mount Meru. Three sets of steps on each side lead up to the corner towers and gopuras of the inner gallery. The very steep stairways represent the difficulty of ascending to the kingdom of the gods. This inner gallery, called the Bakan, is a square with axial galleries connecting each gopura with the central shrine, and subsidiary shrines located below the corner towers. The roofings of the galleries are decorated with the motif of the body of a snake ending in the heads of lions or garudas.

Bakan

Carved lintels and pediments decorate the entrances to the galleries and to the shrines. The tower above the central shrine rises above the ground; unlike those of previous temple mountains, the central tower is raised above the surrounding four. The shrine itself, originally occupied by a statue of Vishnu and open on each side, was walled in when the temple was converted to Theravada Buddhism, the new walls featuring standing Buddhas.

Decoration: Integrated with the architecture of the building, and one of the causes for its fame is Angkor Wat’s extensive decoration, which predominantly takes the form of bas-relief (is a projecting image with a shallow overall depth, for example used on coins, on which all images are in low relief) friezes. The inner walls of the outer gallery bear a series of large-scale scenes mainly depicting episodes from the Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. From the northwest corner anti-clockwise, the western gallery shows the Battle of Lanka (from the Ramayana, in which Rama defeats Ravana) and the Battle of Kurukshetra (from the Mahabharata, showing the mutual annihilation of the Kaurava and Pandava clans). On the southern gallery follow the only historical scene, a procession of Suryavarman II, then the 32 hells and 37 heavens of Hindu mythology.

Gallery

On the eastern gallery is one of the most celebrated scenes, the Churning of the Sea of Milk, showing 92 asuras and 88 devas using the serpent Vasuki to churn the sea under Vishnu’s direction. It is followed by Vishnu defeating asuras (a 16th-century addition). The northern gallery shows Krishna’s victory over Bana and a battle between the Hindu gods and asuras. The northwest and southwest corner pavilions both feature much smaller-scale scenes, some unidentified but most from the Ramayana or the life of Krishna.

Churning of the Sea Milk

Sarah Widjaja and Saurabh Sud

* * *

Bibliography

1. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668
2. http://sacredsites.com/asia/cambodia/angkor_wat.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat
4. http://www.autoriteapsara.org/en/angkor/temples_sites/temples/
angkor_vat.html
5. http://www.devata.org/2010/01/angkor-wat-top-shrine-reopens-to-visitors/

8,652 thoughts on “Majestic Angkor Wat”

  1. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback. soi keo

  2. It’s my belief mesothelioma can be the most lethal cancer. It contains unusual characteristics. The more I look at it the greater I am certain it does not respond like a true solid tissues cancer. In the event mesothelioma is often a rogue virus-like infection, therefore there is the chance for developing a vaccine along with offering vaccination for asbestos open people who are really at high risk associated with developing future asbestos associated malignancies. Thanks for sharing your ideas about this important health issue. https://iwins1.net/

  4. choose the ideal new flooring for your house, whether you’re searching for thick, luxurious carpets to give your bedroom a genuinely upscale feel or durable bedroom carpet to survive for a long time. bedroom carpet

  5. I discovered your blog site on google and appearance a couple of your early posts. Maintain the great operate. I recently additional your Feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading a lot more within you down the line!… iwin

  6. That’s the reason concentrate on you have to particular footwork ahead of when writing. Is going to be feasible in order to much more appealing article in this way. Open Now

  7. Hellstar isn’t just a brand—it’s a testament to high-caliber craftsmanship and bold identity. Every piece is forged from heavyweight, premium materials designed to endure the elements and the streets. From reinforced stitching to vibrant, crack-resistant prints, Hellstar’s attention to detail ensures each item is as durable as it is distinctive. The brand’s dark, cosmic aesthetic is matched only by its commitment to quality, delivering garments that feel substantial and look timeless.
    https://hell-star.us/

  8. We offer a wonderful selection of gray carpet dubai that can enhance the look of any room. Whether it’s for your home, office, or apartment, our carpets are the perfect choice. gray carpet dubai

  11. I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank God I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again. iwin

  12. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. J88

  13. […]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[…]… J88

  14. I am always searching online for articles that can help me. There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also. Keep working, great job
    먹튀검증

  15. I’d must talk with you here. Which isn’t some thing I usually do! I love to reading an article which will make people feel. Also, thank you allowing me to comment! J88

  16. I’d need to examine with you here. Which is not something I often do! I enjoy studying a publish that can make people think. Also, thanks for permitting me to remark! J88

  17. I’m just excited your offer. It is brilliant to discover the majority explain in words away from your mindset along with skill for this important issue vicinity are actually adequately determined. f8bet

  18. Create a luxurious and restful ambiance with premium hotel curtains designed for comfort, style, and functionality. These curtains offer excellent light-blocking and noise-reducing features, ideal for a peaceful stay. Available in elegant fabrics and colors to match any hotel interior. Perfect for guest rooms, lobbies, and conference areas. Upgrade your hospitality space with high-quality hotel curtains today!
    Hotel Curtains

  19. Nice post. I discover some thing tougher on distinct blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and employ something there. I’d would prefer to apply certain with the content on my own weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide a link on your internet weblog. Appreciate your sharing. https://j88.se.net/

  21. Can I simply say that of a relief to seek out somebody who truly knows what theyre speaking about over the internet. You actually know how to bring a concern to light and earn it important. The diet ought to ought to see this and fully grasp this side in the story. I cant think youre less popular because you undoubtedly possess the gift. https://j88.se.net/

  22. Hello there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thank you! https://j88.se.net/

  23. Thank you for your site post. Velupe and I happen to be saving for just a new book on this subject and your article has made us all to save money. Your opinions really responded all our issues. In fact, above what we had thought of ahead of the time we came across your great blog. I no longer nurture doubts including a troubled mind because you totally attended to each of our needs here. Thanks f8bet

  25. I would also love to add that when you do not currently have an insurance policy or maybe you do not take part in any group insurance, you might well make use of seeking the aid of a health insurance broker. Self-employed or people who have medical conditions generally seek the help of any health insurance broker. Thanks for your blog post. f8bet

  27. It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing. Bongdalu

  28. Superb work! This really is the type of info that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my internet site . Thanks =) f8 bet

  29. I have learned some new elements from your web site about pcs. Another thing I have always imagined is that laptop computers have become a product that each family must have for several reasons. They supply you with convenient ways in which to organize homes, pay bills, go shopping, study, hear music and even watch television shows. An innovative strategy to complete many of these tasks is a laptop computer. These personal computers are portable ones, small, effective and lightweight. Bongdalu

  30. Add a refreshing touch to your space with stylish blue curtains that bring calmness and sophistication to any room. Perfect for bedrooms, living areas, or offices, they complement a wide range of interior styles. Available in various shades, from soft pastels to deep navy, to suit your mood and décor. These curtains also offer great light control and privacy. Transform your home with the timeless beauty of blue curtains today!
    Blue Curtains

  31. Phlebotomy Certification Ever before discovered of phlebotomy certification? Superior even now, ever before observed of phlebotomy? Certainly, it is not a typical phrase you hear approximately. In case, you will be thinking what it really is, phlebotomy is often a process by way of which blood is removed by implies of a needle. You may possibly be pondering, are not these folks called nurses? Nicely, no. Nurses can perform phlebotomy but not all phlebotomists are nurses. People that are qualified only to take away blood with a needle are known as phlebotomists, they as well perform in hospitals and clinics but which is all the health-related help they can supply unless theyre prepared for much more. Bongdalu

  32. I am frequently to blogging we really appreciate your website content continuously. The article has really peaks my interest. I will bookmark your site and keep checking achievable info. f8 bet

  33. I have not checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I?ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend Casino f8bet

  34. Step into the spotlight with our stunning collection of Velvet Party Dresses, designed to make every celebration unforgettable. Luxuriously soft and irresistibly stylish, velvet adds a touch of sophistication and glamour to any look.

  35. Nice post. I discover some thing tougher on distinct blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and employ something there. I’d would prefer to apply certain with the content on my own weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide a link on your internet weblog. Appreciate your sharing. https://bongdalu88.mx/

  36. I’d need to talk with you here. Which isn’t something I usually do! I quite like reading a post that should get people to believe. Also, appreciate your permitting me to comment! https://bongdalu88.mx/

  37. Heard about this website from my buddy. He pointed me here and informed me I’d discover what I need. He was right! I got all of the questions I had, answered. Did not even take lengthy to seek out it. Love the truth that you produced it so simple for individuals like me. https://bongdalu88.mx/

  39. Resources like the one you mentioned here will be very useful to me! I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful. M88

  42. It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing. U888

  43. Great post! I am actually getting ready to across this information, is very helpful my friend. Also great blog here with all of the valuable information you have. Keep up the good work you are doing here. Kolkata Fatafat

  45. I would also like to add that if you do not surely have an insurance policy or perhaps you do not participate in any group insurance, you could well benefit from seeking the assistance of a health insurance professional. Self-employed or people with medical conditions usually seek the help of the health insurance specialist. Thanks for your writing. U888

  47. Nicely We definitely liked studying it. This particular topic procured by you is extremely efficient for correct preparing. U888

  48. Thanks for your wonderful post! It has long been very helpful. I hope that you’ll continue sharing your wisdom with us. M88

  49. PVC flooring Dubai offers an unbeatable combination of durability, affordability, and style for your space. Known for its high performance, PVC flooring is becoming a popular choice in residential and commercial areas. PVC Flooring Dubai

  50. Howdy. Very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to locate numerous helpful information here within the article. Thank you for sharing. U888

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *