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    Thursday, July 12, 2007

    The Angkor temples are extremely emblematic constructions

    The Angkor temples are amazingly wonderful: lasting monuments to the marvelousness of the ancient Cambodian Khmer Kingdom, which dominated Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 14th century. Visitors are often surprised by the immense scale and grandeur of the place. Inside the Angkor Wat complex alone, you'll find over 100 ancient stone temple buildings and monuments, each containing numerous statues, sculptures and bas-reliefs which have endured quite well during the last 800 years (mellinia).

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    The temples were the center of life for large urban areas of royalty, religious leaders, craftsmen, traders and agricultural producers. As the cultural, political, and economic power of the Angkor Kingdom grew, so did their cities. The size and magnificence of Angkor Wat represents the height of this power and influence.





    All the Angkor temples were built during the reign of the Angkorian-era and symbolize the pinnacle of the old Khmer culture, architecture and art. Throughout its history, the Age of Angkor was a period of energy and wealth for the Khmer Empire. Khmer kings ordered the building of great water works and majestic temples plus the establishment of a powerful army, as well as cultural and economic prominence throughout South East Asia. The capital city of Angkor was inhabited by over one million people (at that time = during the 12th and 13th centuries), creating a dynamic city full of great possibilities.





    In 1431, the Ayutthayan intruders assaulted the Khmer capital and finally defeated the Khmer armies. This began the decline of the Khmer civilization, and triggered the majority of its inhabitants to migrate towards the south. Over the next several centuries, the size, power, and influence of the Khmer Empire and its cities was reduced.

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    The Angkor temples are extremely emblematic constructions; showing a consistent group of architectural and ornamental elements. The majority of the temples are based on the style of the "temple mountain", i.e. the design portrayal from the mythological Mount Meru, believed to be the core of the entire world and home of the gods.





    In certain cases, the primary temple building is formed like a pyramid, in some cases the rooftops of the temple sanctuaries were created as multi-leveled, stylized mountains. Several temples are surrounded by a moat, representing the ocean around Mount Meru. For this reason, numerous temples, such as Angkor Wat, are surrounded by moats, built-in a mountain-like pyramidal form, and topped by exactly 5 towers, representing the 5 peaks of Mount Meru.





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    See Also :

    All Angkor Temples
    All Angkor Temples are believed to have been constructed as temples and mausoleums for the Khmer Kings at the peak of the Khmer Empire. Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples and is visited by millions of people each year...

    Angkor Temple Index
    Angkor temple Index is an alphabetical list of Angkor Temples. When you click on the temple name in the table of the temple names, the window of each Angkor Temple will appear and provide you the temple details including...

    Khmer Empire and Angkor Kings
    Angkor Kings, The Khmer Empire was the single most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, that became right out the previous kingdom of Chenla, on occasion dominated over and/or vassalized portions of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia...


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