When I was in elementary school I remember receiving a book from my Mum as a birthday present. It was called “Strange Worlds Amazing Places” published by Reader’s Digest (polish edition). I think this was the first book that made me want to see distant lands. Beautiful pictures encouraged my imagination. I traveled before I got this book, seen a lot of Europe & USA mainly. This book allowed me to dream further that civilization known to me. And so I came across Angkor for the first time that I can remember.
Bayon Temple
The temples of the Angkor area number over one thousand, ranging in scale from piles of bricks to the well maintained Angkor Wat, said to be the world’s largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, and together they comprise the most significant site of Khmer architecture. Before getting to Cambodia I was
Apsaras, divine nymphs or celestial dancing girls
convinced the whole area was called Angkor Wat and didn’t consist of more than 3 to 4 temples, this only means I didn’t do my homework and read more about it. Later I found out that Angkor Wat is only one of the temples on 400 square km site where the capitals of Khmer Empire were once located – please note plural – capitals. Over five centuries Khmers were major power in south-east Asia. Each emperor added splendor to Angkor building magnificent temples, reservoirs or terraces:
- Bakong now called Roulos – finished in 811 was a state temple of king Indravarman, dedicated to Shiva;
- Preah Ko – built around 880 by the same ruler in memory of the royal ancestors;
- Lolei – dedicated in 893 by Yasovarman I to Shiva and to members of the royal family;
- Phnom Bakeng – located atop a hill is nowadays a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat;
Ta Keo
- Pre Rup – temple’s name is a comparatively modern one meaning “turn the body”. This reflects the common belief among Cambodians that funerals were conducted at the temple, with the ashes of the body being ritually rotated in different directions as the service progressed;
- Phimeanakas or Vimeanakas – temple in the shape of a three tier pyramid build by Rajendravarman and then rebuilt by Suryavarman II, according to legend, the king spent the first watch of every night with a woman thought to represent a Nāga in the tower, during that time, not even the queen was permitted to intrude. Only in the second watch the king returned to his palace with the queen. If the naga who was the supreme land owner of Khmer land did not show up for a night, the king’s day would be numbered, if the king did not show up, calamity would strike his land;
- Baphuon – temple of Udayadityavarman II dedicated to the Shiva;
- Angkor Wat – was erected in 1113 by Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu;
- Thommanon – mall and elegant temple dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu;
- Bayon – dedicated to Buddha was a state temple of Jayavarman VII;
- Ta Prohm – founded by Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university;
- Preah Khan sometimes transliterated as Prah Khan – is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples;
- irrigation system of the region based on the great reservoirs;
- East Baray – a now-dry baray, oriented east-west and located just east of the walled city Angkor Thom. It was built around the year 900 AD during the reign of King Yasovarman. Fed by the Siem Reap River flowing down from the Kulen Hills. Scholars are divided on the purpose of this and other barays. By some theories, they held water for irrigation, but no inscription has been found mentioning such a function. Other theories say that barays served primarily a symbolic purpose in Khmer religious life, representing the seas of creation that surround Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods. The East Baray today contains no water; farmers till crops on its bed;
- West Baray – oriented east-west and located just west of the walled city Angkor Thom is the largest baray at Angkor. Its waters are contained by tall earthen dikes. In the center of the baray is the West Mebon, a Hindu temple built on an artificial island;
- Terrace of the Elephants – is 350m long part of the walled city of Angkor Thom, it was used by Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas;
Do you remember Mortal Kombat & Mortal Kombat II? I always thought at least one of them was filmed in Angkor but in fact for both pictures were taken in Thailand. Although the Temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in Tomb Raider. There were of course other films made there, among them The Killing Fields (1984), In The Mood for Love (2000), City of Ghosts (2002) and Two Brothers (2003).
Fancy a further read? Follow the links: Khmer architecture, Country profile,
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