Table of Contents
Introduction
In the north of Cambodia, there is a vast complex of Buddhist temples known as Angkor Wat. It was initially constructed as a Hindu temple in the first half of the 12th century. The greatest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat is supposed to span more than 400 acres. Its name, which translates to “temple city” in the local Khmer language, alludes to the fact that it was constructed as the state temple and political hub of the empire of Emperor Suryavarman II, who governed the area from 1113 to 1150.
By the end of the 12th century, Angkor Wat, which was once devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, had converted to Buddhism.
The History of Angkor Wat
In the north of Cambodia, there is a vast complex of Buddhist temples known as Angkor Wat.
The greatest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat is an architectural marvel that occupies a space four times the size of Vatican City. Angkor Wat is nearly 900 years old and was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, roughly between 1110 and 1150.
The temple complex in the Khmer Empire’s capital took around 30 years to construct. dedicated to lord Vishnu, it became a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century.
Antonio de Madalena, a Portuguese monk who visited the temple in 1586, was one of the first Western visitors. In the 1840s, the French adventurer Henri Mouhot effectively rediscovered Angkor Wat. Mouhot referred to Angkor Wat as “grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome” and helped disseminate knowledge about this great masterpiece throughout the Western world.
In the early 1900s, the French, who governed Cambodia for much of the twentieth century, rebuilt the site for tourism purposes. This work, however, was interrupted by the Cambodian Civil War and the Khmer Rouge’s leadership. Angkor Wat was only slightly damaged, but there are still bullet holes on its outside walls from the Khmer Rouge regime’s wars.
Cambodia obtained independence from France in 1953 and has maintained control of Angkor Wat since then.
The temple complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992 and is now an internationally renowned tourist attraction in Cambodia, with over 2 million visitors each year.
Architectural Crafting
A total of 1.5 million cubic meters (53 million cubic feet) of sand and silt were carried to form the moat around the temple.
A firm substance called laterite was utilised, which was then encased in softer sandstone for carving the reliefs. The Kulen Hills, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) to the north, provided the quarry for these sandstone stones. According to studies, the blocks were transported to Angkor Wat by a network of waterways.
Temple Design
The French explorer Henri Mouhot “rediscovered” Angkor Wat in the 1840s, writing that it was “grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome.”
The compliment is most likely due to the temple’s design, which is meant to reflect Mount Meru, the home of the gods, according to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Its five towers are meant to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, while the walls and moat below are meant to represent the surrounding mountain ranges and sea.
Angkor Wat’s clever design restricts views of all five towers at specific angles. Angkor Wat is distinguished by a curved sloping roof that covers galleries, chambers, and aisles. From a distance, it appears to be a succession of long narrow ridges, but upon closer inspection, it identifies itself. It’s a roof formed of elegantly arched stone rectangles arranged end to end. Each row of tiles is finished with an end tile that is at right angles to the roof’s ridge.
The idea culminates in elaborately framed ornamented tympanums. The various levels are accessible by steps.
A 15-foot-high wall, surrounded by a wide moat, protected the city, the temple, and the residents from invasion, and much of that fortification is still standing. A sandstone causeway served as the main access point for the temple.
Inside these walls, Angkor Wat stretches across more than 200 acres. It’s believed that this area included the city, the temple structure, and the emperor’s palace, which was just north of the temple.
However, in keeping with tradition at the time, only the city’s outer walls and the temple were made of sandstone, with the rest of the structures built from wood and other, less durable materials. Hence, only portions of the temple and city wall remain.
Nonetheless, the temple is a magnificent construction, reaching about 70 feet into the air at its tallest point—the tower above the main shrine.
Thousands of bas-reliefs depict prominent Hindu and Buddhist deities and people, as well as key events in its narrative tradition, on the temple walls. A bas-relief depicts Emperor Suryavarman II entering the city, possibly for the first time after its completion.
Architectural Plan
The entire profile resembles a lotus blossom, and several architectural lines stand out in the monument’s profile. The attention is pulled to the horizontal aspect of the levels and upward to the towers’ soaring height. Because of its size, the layout of Angkor Wat is difficult to grasp when traveling through the monument. Its complexity and beauty both draw and divert attention. From afar, Angkor Wat looks to be a massive pile of stone on one level with a lengthy causeway heading to the center, but upon closer inspection, it is a succession of elevated towers, covered galleries, chambers, porches, and courtyards on several levels linked by stairways.
Angkor Wat’s height from the ground to the summit of the central tower is higher than it appears: 213 meters (699 feet), reached by three rectangular or square levels (1-3). Starting from the outer edges of each one is gradually smaller and higher than the one below.
The limits of the first and second levels are defined by covered galleries with columns. The third level has five towers, four in the corners and one in the center, which are the most visible architectural elements of Angkor Wat. This arrangement is known as a quincunx. Gradually ascending stages give the towers a conical form, and rows of lotuses taper to a point near the summit.
A Surrounding Moat, Towering Structures, Intricate Spiral Designs, And Concealed Paintings
Angkor Wat is ringed by a 650-foot-wide (200-meter) moat that extends for more than 3 miles (5 kilometres). This 13-foot-deep (4-meter-deep) moat would have helped stabilise the temple’s foundation by keeping groundwater from rising too high or sinking too low.
The main entrance of Angkor Wat was to the west (a direction connected with Vishnu), across a stone causeway guarded by lions. Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of eight sandstone and laterite towers at the western gateway. These towers could be the ruins of shrines that existed before Angkor Wat was completed. A second, more modest entrance was located to the east of the temple.
The centre tower was the temple’s heart, accessible through a steep stairway with a Vishnu statue at the top.
The centre tower’s hidden artworks have been discovered. A tableau in one chamber of the tower depicts a traditional Khmer ensemble of musical instruments known as the pin peat, which is composed of many gongs, xylophones, wind instruments, and other percussion instruments. In the same room, there’s an exquisite scenario with people riding horses between two structures that could be temples. Since 2010, 200 paintings have been unearthed in Angkor Wat, including these two.
The heart of the temple was the central tower, entered by way of a steep staircase, with a statue of Vishnu at the top.
Hidden paintings have been discovered in the central tower. One chamber in the tower has a scene showing a traditional Khmer ensemble of musical instruments known as the pin peat, which is made up of different gongs, xylophones, wind instruments, and other percussion instruments. In the same chamber, there’s also an intricate scene featuring people riding horses between two structures, which might be temples. These two paintings are among 200 that have been discovered in Angkor Wat since 2010.
The Intention Behind The Architecture
Although Angkor Wat is devoted to Vishnu, the temple’s true function is still unknown.
Eleanor Mannikka, author of “Angkor Wat: Time, Space, and Kingship,” noticed that Angkor Wat is positioned at 13.41 degrees north latitude and that the north-south axis of the central tower’s chamber is 13.43 cubits long. This, Mannikka feels, is not an accident. “In the central sanctuary, Vishnu is not only placed at the latitude of Angkor Wat but he is also placed along the axis of the earth,” she adds, pointing out that the Khmer recognised the world was round.
Furthermore, Mannikka mentions a dozen moon alignments with Angkor Wat’s towers in her book, implying that it played an important astronomical role.
Conclusion
Angkor Wat is a living witness to our history, beliefs, and how our cultures have evolved. The way it changed from a Hindu temple to a Buddhist sanctuary shows how our ideas can shift over time, yet our faith endures.
The temple’s intricate design, aligned with the stars, shows how connected ancient builders were to the universe.Even now, with its UNESCO recognition and countless visitors, Angkor Wat keeps inspiring people from all over the world.It’s like a bridge that connects us to the past, reminding us of our shared journey through time.
