This complex of ancient temples (geographically as large as Paris) is probably the
most important archeological site in South East Asia. It is located at Angkor in
Cambodia to 5.5 kilometers of the modern town of Siem Reap. It dates from XII century
(although the construction lasted almost 4 centuries) and the main temple is very
well conserved and it is still today a religious center. The temple was constructed
in the jungle by order from the king Suryavarman as the main temple of the country
and its capital city.
This temple is one of the most beautiful and suggestive places on the planet. It
is a true feat of the architecture. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru
(the house of gods of the Hinduism). The temple has several towers; there are many
courtyards and an endless number of bas-reliefs ornament the walls of its rooms.
The architectural style of the temple is known as Khmer Architecture, this style
used sandstone and bricks to create the intricate designs that adorn this wonderful
temple.
The temple is composed by concentric galleries; Angkor Wat (wat means temple) has three main features: the outer enclosure that
surrounded the complex, which is composed by a great outer wall of 1024 x 802 meters
and 4.5 meters height and a moat of 190 meters wide, which symbolizes the ranges
of mountains and the ocean respectively.
The central structure is composed by several rectangular galleries rising to a central
tower, which is over a terrace higher than the city. The temple itself has quincunx
(arrangement of five units) towers which represents the peaks of the mountains.
This part of the temple has many statues of Buddha and inscriptions of old pilgrims.
The decoration is the other and perhaps the most representative characteristic of
the temple. It is composed mainly by bas-reliefs friezes, which represent episodes
from the Hindu epics the Ramyana and the Mahabharata; bas-reliefs show also battle
scenes like the Battle of Kurukshetra amongst the Kaurava and Pandava clans as well
as the “Churning of the Sea of Milk”, the “37 heavens” and many other pictures of
the Hindu mythology.
Angkor Wat is dedicated to Vishnu (the supreme god of the Hinduism). According to archeologists like Charles Higham,
the sanctuary was built also to serve as a funerary temple for the remains of Suryavarman.
The evidence that support this theory is in the bas-reliefs and a funerary jar which
was found in the central tower.
History
The construction of the temple was started in the XII century when the king Suryavarman
(1113 - 1150) ruled in the region. The complex was constructed as the state temple
as well as the capital of the country. Current theories say that the location of
the temple was chosen because of its important strategic military position; but
there are other theories that explain the location of the temple because of a planet-spanning
sacred geography. It believes that its original name was Vrah Vishnulok, because
of the main deity that was adored here.
The status of the temple did not last long time; since in 1177 Angkor was sacked
by the main enemies of the Khmer, the Chams.
Some
time later the empire was rebuilt
by the king Jayavarman VII who moved the capital and the main temple of the country
to another location a short distance to the north.
View of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat became a Theravada Buddhist during XIV and XV centuries. From the XVI
century the temple lost its importance; nevertheless, it was never totally abandoned.
In 1861 the French scientist Henri Mouhot rediscovered accidentally the remains
of the temple and he popularized the temple in the Western Hemisphere when published
its travel notes. The French traveler described the temple using these words: “One
of these temples a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michenlangelo
might take an honorable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander
than anything left to us by Greece or Rome, and presents a sad contrast to the state
of barbarism in which the nation is now plunged”.
In 1908 thanks to the popularity that the temple reached in Europe mainly in France;
French people funded and managed a great plan of restoration. This restoration is made still today, but it was interrupted during 1980s and 1990s when the Khmer Rouge
took the control of the country during a civil war. Fortunately, this violent war
did not cause great damage to the remains of the temple.
Today Angkor Wat is probably the greatest symbol of Cambodia , this temple is so
very important to Cambodia that its image is part of the country’s flag since 1863.
Since 1990 Angkor Wat has experienced a great flood of tourism; mainly after UNESCO
declared in 1992 the temple as World Heritage Site. In 2006 this place received
around 675 000 foreign visitors. The money contributed by tourists has served to
provide additional funds for the maintenance of the temple and support the economy
of the region of Siem Reap in Cambodia.