ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE

(first half of the 12th century: 1100-1175), king Suryavarman 2, Monument: Angkor Wat Temple. In the first half of the 12th century, the Khmer empire architecture and art reached the top. The highest achievements are in the architecture the ornamentation of buildings and the Bas-reliefs. Angkor Wat was the only artificial temple mountain stood on a high base with 3 levels and surrounded by the sandstone galleries of the bas-reliefs and the top level supported the 5 towers. It was the mausoleum of king Suryavarman 2 and oriented to the west to conform the symbolism between the sunset and death. The other temples were on the ground level and faced towards to the east. Angkor Wat occupied a rectangular area of about 195 hectares for the whole complex. A laterite wall is (800 meters wide by 1025 meters long with 4 gates) that enclosed the temple and covered an area of about 82 hectares. The gallery of bas-reliefs depicted the scenes of god Vishnu and Krishna with 4 arms in the Hindu Epic “Mahahbahrahtah” god Vishnu intervenes in his incarnation as the four-armed Krishna as the charioteer of Ajuran commander of Pandava army. The churning of the ocean of milk that churned by gods and demons to generate Amrita (the elixir of life), the battle between the gods and demons and Ramayana story and another was a historic story identified king Suryavarman 2 mounted on an elephant and raised and army to the battlefield (Joun Dayveit). Angkor Wat Temple has 1850 Apsaras (female dancers), but are differentiated and classified 36 kinds of hairstyle decorated with abundant jewelry… etc. - The lintel : the lintels are similar to those of the Baphuon style and the middle part of the lintel comedown again with remarkable Kala handles and on each end of the lintels carved volute carvings. At the end of this style most of the lintels are decorated with real leaves in the shape of parallel hooks. - The column : the columns have 16 sections are round and ornamented by leaves. - The pediment : the pediments are similar to those of the Baphuon style. The pediments also depicted the scenes from god Vishnu legend. On the half of the pediments of Angkor Wat depicted the scenes from other stories such as are (Tupi: king of water buffalo) battles against (Vali: monkey king) which take place on the first level. - The pilaster : the pilasters are adorned with motifs and tendril carvings. - The statue : the statues are plump and stocky with facial expression are square and gently smile. The male statue with short skirts and the female statue with pleated skirts and well-light skirts with a star on each with abundant jewelries and crowns with a conical headdress and the hair coiled up. The Naga Buddha is frequently found in Angkor style with abundant jewelries.