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Date:
The first half of the 12th century
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Reign of construction:
Suryavarman II (1113-1150)
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Cult:
Hinduism, Visnuit temple
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Clearance work:
G. Commaille (1908-1911)
Angkor Wat,
the largest monument of the Angkor complex and the best
preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. It is perfection
in composition, balance, proportions, relief and sculptures
make it one of the finest monuments in the world.
"Wat"
meaning "Monastery" which was called it when it became a
Buddhist Hinayanism in the 16th century.
It is
generally accepted that Angkor Wat was a funerary temple for
the king Suryavarman II symbolism between sunset and death.
To see the bas-reliefs starting from left to right according
to Hindu funeral ritual, to prove this function.
It
is surrounding by a moat: 190m wide, 1500m from West to
East; 1300m from North to South; their sandstone embankments
decorated with step and curps are more than 10km long and 3m
deep. This frame work is broken, in the West and East by a
bridge; the West entrance one is of stone, the east one is
of earth seems to have been designed temporarily during the
digging of the ditches, for transporting the materials.
The
laterite wall: 1025m from West to East; 800m from North to
South; the bridge across the moat to the West entrance 250m;
the West entrance: 255m with triple-tower and include
passages connected by halls and prolongated by galleries and
in splendid blind doors; behind these are ground-level
passages for common people, carts and animals.
- The wall contains a
series of false windows with finely, carved balusters,
the surface is engraved with charming square pattern in
rosettes.
- From this
background, stand out groups of graceful Apsaras or
celestial dancers with rich costumes and splendid
head-dress.
- Above the windows,
under the delicate design hanging from the cornice,
runs a frieze of warriors on the shoulders of the
different animals (all these warriors may be Gods).
Architectural
Plan:
The plan
of Angkor Wat is hard to understand when walking through the
monument because of the vastness.
It is
complexity and beauty always attract the attention of the
visitors. From a distance it looks like a colossal mass of
stone on one level with long causeway leading to the central
complex but when approaching it is a series of elevated
towers, galleries, chambers, porches and courtyards on
different levels linked by stairways.
Symbolism:
Angkor Wat
is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and
represents an earthly model of the cosmic world. The central
tower rises from the centre of the monument symbolizing the
mythical mountain Meru, situated at the centre of the
universe. Its five towers corresponds to the five peaks of
Mount Meru; the outer wall symbolizing the chain of the
mountain surrounding the universe and the Moat representing
the ocean beyond. The causeway which decorated with Naga
balustrade symbolizing the rainbow -- the bridge linked the
world of the human being to the paradise -- the world of
Gods.
