Angkor Wat Temple: History, Location, Importance, and Characteristics

Context: 

Recently the Cambodian Government evicted people living around the Angkor Wat Temple Complex.

About Angkor Wat Temple

• History: It was built by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century.
  • Suryavarman II was the king of the Khmer (Cambodian) empire renowned as a religious reformer and temple builder.
• Location: Angkor Wat, temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia.
• Religious Site: It was first a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu but later transformed into a Buddhist temple. 
  • The intricate carvings on its walls tell stories from Hindu and Buddhist myths.
  • The temple remains an active religious site, attracting Buddhist monks and devotees who come to pay their respects and engage in prayer and meditation.
• 8th Wonder of the World: Angkor Wat, in the heart of Cambodia, has beaten Pompeii in Italy to become the eighth Wonder of the World. 

Historical Importance Of Angkor Wat Temple

• Buddhism: The carvings in the temple, which show scenes from both Buddhist and Hindu mythology, represent the change from Hinduism to Buddhism.
• Neighboring Structures: Angkor Wat is a component of a larger complex that also contains the sculpturally decorated Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom.
• Archaeological Significance: Covering 400 square kilometers, the site contains ruins of several Khmer Empire capitals from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries, making it one of Southeast Asia’s most important archaeological sites.

Important characteristics Of Angkor Wat Temple

• Architecture: The sandstone block construction of Angkor Wat, a 15-foot-tall wall enclosing the city, temple, and people, and a broad moat providing defense are examples of the temple’s architectural magnificence.
• Bas-Reliefs: The walls of the temple are covered in numerous bas-reliefs that depict Hindu and Buddhist deities and stories.
• Symbolism: The five lotus-shaped towers in the center of the temple complex symbolize Mount Meru, the mythological home of the gods in Buddhist and Hindu mythology. The symmetry and accuracy of these towers are striking.

News Source: The Hindu