Angkor Wat

The Center of the Khmer Empire

By: Gabriel
Azcarraga
 The Temple of the Gods
The temple was built by King Suryavarman II and was
finally finished after his death in A.D. 1150.
Built to honor the God Vishnu (the preserver of life.)
The temple itself symbolizes the Universe and serves
as an earthly model of the Hindu Cosmic World.
A Marvel of the World
What makes Angkor Wat a majestic world renowned
temple is that it is the World’s largest religious
monument made out of stone (500 Acres.)
Another physical attribute of this tribute to the Gods is
its central tower rising 213 ft. above the ground.
Religious Representation
Angkor Wat’s upper level stands as the mythical Hindu Mt. Meru
which in Hindu belief, is the Home of the Gods in the center of
the Universe.
The rising inner five towers symbolize the five peaks of Mt. Meru.
The stunningly decorated walls of the temple represent the chains
of mountains at the end of the World, according to Hindu belief.
The giant moat around the monument stands for the fabled
Ocean of Infinity.
The temple is decorated with representations of the
Naga(mythical serpent that controls rain and lives in watery places
beneath the Earth.)
“Half a league from this city is a temple Diogo do Couto’s
description of
called Angar. It is of such extraordinary Angkor Wat
Circa.1543-1616
construction that it is not possible to
describe it with a pen, particularly since
it is like no other building in the world.
It has towers and decoration and all
refinements which the human genius
can conceive of. There are many smaller
towers of similar style, in the same
stone, which are gilded. The temple is
surrounded by a moat, and access is by a
single bridge, protected by two stone
tigers so grand and fearsome as to strike
fear into the visitor.”
The Downfall of Angkor Wat
In 1777 Angkor Wat was sacked by the Chams(Ethnic
Group in Southeast Asia) and fell into ruins.
Picture Bibliography
http://
www.anntours.com/Cambodia/images/Angkor_Wat.j
pg
http://
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Ang
kor-Wat-from-the-air.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_
AROFlteaO6U/RquH7E9A8WI/AAAAAAAAAkk/78-p
qPRoX9E/s400/Tesouros543.jpg
http://
starfamily.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/1
0/Angkor-Wat-Ruins.jpg
http://