Angkor Wat

History of Angkor Wat, general information

Angkor Wat means "temple city" in Khmer. This is the most popular and well-known object of all Angkor Temple Complex.

Angkor Wat is a part of the temple complex of Angkor in the Hindu style, which was the ancient capital of Cambodia until the XV century. To date, it has been preserved better than other temples located on the territory of the city of Angkor. Angkor Wat Temple is even depicted on the national flag Cambodia.

The temple was built in the period from 1113 to 1150. during the reign of King Suryavarman II (posthumous name – Paramavishnulok) and, according to one version, was erected as a tomb for him.

In 1351 and 1431, Siamese troops captured the city of Angkor. During the last invasion, the city was looted and fell into disrepair. The inhabitants left it, only the monks remained.

Angkor Wat became a phenomenon for the world culture at the beginning of 1861, when the French traveler Henri Mouot, as part of a research expedition, found the Angkor complex. True, information about Angkor existed before, but for one reason or another, it did not become generally known. So, in 1850, the city of Angkor was described in his observations by the French priest Charles Emile Bouyevo, who visited here. There is information that even earlier there were Portuguese here.

As a result of the civil war unleashed by the Khmer Rouge in the 70s of the XX century, part of the temple buildings suffered at the hands of vandals.

Since 1992, the Angkor Wat temple as part of the Angkor complex has been recognized as a world cultural heritage and taken under the protection of UNESCO. The specialists of this organization ensure the protection of the complex, its restoration and preservation, thanks to which, today you can see this creation of Khmer architects. Angkor Wat is one of the main attractions of Cambodia.

In order to protect the monument, a special access regime has been established for the upper tier of Angkor Wat since 2010. From now on, no more than 100 people can be there at the same time. The new rules prohibit children, the elderly and those with disabilities from climbing to the top, which was previously practically not controlled. Strict clothing requirements: shoulders and knees must be covered. During Buddhist holidays, the upper gallery is now closed to the public.

Orientation in the temple, tips for inspection

Angkor Wat should be visited without fail. For his unhurried inspection, it is better to allocate 4 hours or more. Also a popular action is the meeting of sunrise and sunset in the complex, so many routes start or end in Angkor Wat. There are always a lot of tourists here, and it's almost impossible to take photos without at least a couple of tourists getting into the frame.

The complex has a length of 1.5 km from west to east, and 1.3 km from north to south. The perimeter of the temple is surrounded by a 190 m wide moat of water, forming a kind of square-shaped island. The main entrance to the island is located on the west side, and is carried out by a stone bridge over the moat. All this territory will have to be bypassed on foot, since no transport, and even bicycles are not allowed through the main entrance. There is, however, an opportunity to call on the island from the east side and drive almost right up to the main temple, but this is how lucky, and it's not easy to find the way (although the locals know everything and can arrange it).

The main structure of the temple has a much more modest size than the whole island, only 200 by 200 meters, and is located in the center of the island. It is there that all the most interesting things are concentrated, and tourists spend the most time there. The temple is a pyramid consisting of three levels, oriented by the entrance and facing west. From the western side (from the front), the same photos of the temple are taken, which are usually depicted in guidebooks (see the points for photographing on the map).

A wide road of stone slabs leads to the temple from the main entrance, which begins and ends with several cross-shaped platforms surrounded by nagas (snake-like mythical creatures). The platforms have three levels, the king's throne was installed on the topmost one. On both sides of the road there are library buildings with four entrances each.

In addition to the ancient temple on the island there is a place that is rarely visited by tourists, but it can also be quite interesting. This is a functioning temple complex located on the south side of the main temple.

Temple construction, architecture

The temple is a pyramid consisting of three levels, oriented to the west. Despite the rather complicated design, its construction was carried out from the center to the periphery. No matter how you look at it, only three out of five towers are always visible, which is a miracle of architectural art to this day.

The three levels of the temple, according to the beliefs of the Khmer, represent the three elements: air, earth and water. The center of the temple is the main tower, located on the third level and rising 65 m from the ground. It is a mythical Mount Meru, where the supreme gods live. The temple was built, first of all, to glorify the Hindu god Vishnu and became the personification of the superiority and greatness of the ruling king. Hence, the entrance to the central tower was forbidden to ordinary people, only the king and monks could visit this sacred place.

The central tower is surrounded by four more towers around the perimeter, the tops of which resemble a lotus bud in shape. The towers of each of the three tiers are interconnected by covered corridors in which galleries are located. From the galleries of the first tier, you can climb rather steep stairs to the galleries of the second, and from there to the galleries of the third level.

In the galleries there are numerous bas-reliefs and images depicting the main events that took place in the life of the ancient inhabitants, and scenes from Hindu epics. The ceilings are decorated with a lotus pattern. Traces of painting have been preserved in some places. Windows with figuratively carved pillars resembling balusters are carved on the walls of the second tier.

Angkor Wat was built of sandstone, without the addition of cement, and wood. Therefore, the preservation of this monument remains problematic. The sandstone is gradually being destroyed under the influence of time and the jungle, during the periods of wars the temple was the object of vandalism; the wooden floors are almost not preserved. The jungle at one time more than once absorbed the temple, sprouting roots through the walls.

1 level

In front of the entrance to the first level, measuring 215 by 187 m., three towers are installed. This level is very informative, because there are many images and panels of various Hindu themes. A total of eight giant panels with a height of 2 meters and a length of about 1000 m are located in the gallery of the first level. The images on these panels "quote" the main episodes from the still popular ancient Indian epics "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata".

On the inside of the gallery there is a blank wall, on which, in fact, the bas–reliefs are presented, on the outside of the gallery there is a double row of columns forming a narrow passage for viewing the bas-reliefs. The ceilings are decorated with carvings resembling a lotus flower.

Each main gallery ends with corner pavilions, two of the four entrances of which are connected directly to the main galleries, and the other two end with small recesses in the wall (niches, tympanums). Bas-reliefs and panels were also previously located in these niches, but, unfortunately, today it is hardly possible to distinguish anything.

It is suggested to start the inspection of the bas-reliefs from the western gallery in the southern part (the Battle of Kurukshetra) in a counterclockwise direction, but it's still up to you to decide.

• Western Gallery

  • The north wing of the west gallery
    Image in the west gallery of Angkor Wat

    It depicts scenes from the epic "Ramayana", namely the battle for the island of Lanka. We see Rama (the sun god) standing on the shoulders of Hanuman (the monkey god), along with his brother Lakshman, Ravana's younger brother Vibhishan and an army of monkeys fighting with the lord of Sri Lanka, Ravana (the king of demons), who rides on a chariot drawn by lions, and in each of his hands (20 in total) holding a weapon.

  • The south wing of the west gallery

    This panel depicts a scene of a fierce battle on Kurukshetra from the epic "Mahabharata" between two clans, the Kauravas (pictured on the left) and the Pandavas (pictured on the right), which lasted 18 days. On the lowest row you can see a string of infantry soldiers armed with spears and shields. On the second and third rows are military leaders, commanders on elephants or chariots.

    Here you will also see a dead commander, a warrior on an elephant, a wounded commander. Some parts of the bas-relief are so polished by millions of hands that they look like black marble.

• South Gallery

  • The west wing of the south gallery
    Image in the south gallery of Angkor Wat

    The gallery is represented by panels depicting some moments of the reign of King Suryavarman II (Paramavishnulok).

    On one of the bas-reliefs (western part) The king is depicted sitting on a throne surrounded by servants and subjects, in his hand he has a weapon resembling an axe. The panel is a symbol of his greatness and power.

    On another bas-relief (eastern part) The king is surrounded by an army. Riding on elephants, warlords and commanders lead their warriors to battle. Further to the west of the lobby, you can see the Thai mercenary army, which at that time was an ally of the Khmers in their war with the Chams (Chams). Khmers can be distinguished by square breastplates and spears; Thais by hats, skirts and tridents. Part of this panel was damaged by artillery in 1971.

  • East wing of the south gallery

    This half of the gallery is dedicated to scenes of hell and heaven. The ceiling of the gallery was restored in the 1930s. The bas-relief depicts 32 levels of hell and 37 levels of heaven, according to the beliefs of the Khmer.

    At the level of the upper and middle rows, scenes are presented in which people go to God Yama (the king of demons), surrounded by servants, to accomplish eternal judgment. The god Yama is sitting astride a black bull, holding a rod in each of his 18 hands. Just below the Pit are his assistants, who report on the sins and merits of the person who presented for trial, and the Pit, after listening to the report, decides the next fate.

    The bottom row shows the road to hell, along which sinners are dragged by devils.

    To the right of the Pit is a stage divided horizontally by a line of garud (bird of the god Vishnu, fighter with nagas) into hell and heaven. In paradise, the righteous enjoy themselves surrounded by apsaras (heavenly nymphs). At the bottom, sinners are subjected to various hellish tortures and sufferings.

• Oriental Gallery

  • South wing of the east gallery
    Image in the east gallery of Angkor Wat

    This bas-relief depicts a scene from the Khmer legend of churning The ocean of milk, which tells about the creation of the world. The panel is recognized as the most outstanding in the temple complex and undoubtedly deserves special attention.

    Here we see a plot where 88 asuras (demons) on the left and 92 devas (gods) in helmets decorated with a crest on the right hold a snake, using it as a rope, and Mount Mandara as an axis, which is wrapped around this "rope". The Asuras hold the serpent by the head, and the devas by the tail. Pulling the end of the "rope" on itself, each of the groups leads to the rotation of the mountain, which churns the ocean to get the much-needed elixir of immortality for each group. Vishnu, made in the form of a huge turtle, uses his shell as a support and point of rotation of Mount Mandara. As a result, 14 treasures appear out of the water: Brahma, Shiva, Hanuman (monkey god) and Lakshmi (goddess of beauty), etc. In the upper part of the panel, apsaras (celestial nymphs) sing and dance above their heads. In the lower part of the panel, underwater inhabitants of the ocean are rushing in chaos.

  • The north wing of the east gallery
    Image in the east gallery of Angkor Wat

    This part of the gallery depicts the victory of the god Vishnu over the asuras (demons). Vishnu is sitting on garuda (the riding bird of Vishnu), and troops of demons are moving towards him from all sides.

    Scientists suggest that this gallery was built in a later period, perhaps in the XV or XVI centuries.

• Northern Gallery

  • East wing of the North gallery
    Image in the north gallery of Angkor Wat

    Here are several scenes of the victory of the god Krishna over the king of demons - Bana.

    On one of them, Krishna is sitting on a garuda (a riding bird of Vishnu), and in front of him is the city where Bana lives. Garuda spews fire and Bana surrenders.

    In another episode, Krishna saves the city of Dvaraka (the capital of the tribe to which Krishna belongs) from a fire caused by the son of King Kashi.

    Another panel depicts Krishna's battle with Bana, who rushes at him in a chariot drawn by lions.

    In the final scene, Krishna, kneeling before God Shiva, asks him to spare Bana.

  • The west wing of the north gallery

    This part shows the battle of the 21 gods of the pantheon of Brahma with demons.

    The gods are depicted according to their attributes: Vishnu (the supreme god) has 4 arms and sits on a garuda, Shiva (the supreme god) sits in a lotus position with a third eye on his forehead; Kubera (the god of wealth) – with three legs and one eye; Hanuman (the monkey god) with a monkey face; Lakshmi (the goddess of beauty) sits on a lotus, holding a lotus in each hand; Murugan (the god of war) with six heads and twelve arms and legs, sits on a peacock and others.

level 2

The second level of the temple measures 100 by 115 meters. You can get here by following the covered corridors from the first level through the main entrance (from west to east). The three gate towers of the central entrance are connected to the three towers of the second tier by peculiar corridors. The resulting space is divided into four more rectangular courtyards, which during the rainy season turned into artificial pools.

Climbing to the second tier, on the right and left there are library buildings with four entrances and a central staircase leading to the third level of the temple.

There are ten entrances, each of which is decorated with an improvised roof. The roofs are best preserved above the eastern entrance of the northern gallery and the central entrance of the southern gallery.

The galleries of the second level are represented by corridors. One part of the wall (from the outside) is deaf, the other (from the inside) is with windows, for which low curly bars serve as bars. The corridors open into the inner part of the courtyard with a double row of columns forming covered galleries about 3 m wide. The bas-reliefs of the galleries show images of almost two thousand apsaras, none of which resembles the other.

At the intersection with the gallery (from north to south) there are eight corner columns connected by diagonal lintels with unknown inscriptions.

There are many statues along the south gallery along the blank wall.

• The second level in Angkor Wat
• The second level in Angkor Wat
• The second level in Angkor Wat
• The second level in Angkor Wat
• The second level in Angkor Wat
• The second level in Angkor Wat

level 3

The third level measures 75 by 75 m and is located at a height of 25 m from the ground. In total, the height of the central tower is 65 m from the earth's surface.

The space of this tier is divided into four squares, representing courtyards, from which you can climb both to the corner and to the main towers. There are 12 staircases with very steep steps leading to the towers. However, only one of the stairs leading to the central tower is intended for tourists, and is located at the south tower. The towers are connected to each other by spacious corridors.

From the central tower there are four galleries open on both sides, each 15 m long. On one side (inside) there is a double row of columns, on the other (outside) there are windows with a lattice of shaped columns. The bas-reliefs here are decorated with carvings with images of demigods (devatas).

The central tower looks especially regal if you look at it either in the early morning from the foot of the northeast tower, or at sunset from the foot of the northwest tower.

From the height of the third tier offers an excellent view of the surrounding area.

• The third level in Angkor Wat
• The third level in Angkor Wat
• The third level in Angkor Wat
• The third level in Angkor Wat
• The third level in Angkor Wat
• The third level in Angkor Wat

🕒 29 August, 2024