Angkor Thom, Spring 2008

 

Next


A quick view of a Siem Reap market that we took on the way to the temple.
Ankor Thom is an ancient city.
The central temple is known as the Bayon (c. 1190) and is probably the most important building in the complex.
This is a close up of one of the entrances to Angkor Thom.

Inside the buildings are heavily carved from bottom to top. Apsaras are dancing females and are a common theme in the primarily Buddhist/Hindu Khmer architecture.
Apsaras are female dieties that are associated with fertility.
They also dance for fallen warriors in the afterlife.
Angkor Thom is full of carvings. This is the beginning of a long mural.

Warriors and elephants march along this wall.
More elephants and warriors.
Nice view of the elephant's face.
Some of the walls that surround the city.

Two dancing Apsaras and other figures.
Two Apsaras, each carving is different.
Apsaras
Here I am next to the Apsara carving.

Even the tops of the wall are carved. Some carvings are in better shape than others. They are still amazing for being nearly 1,000 years old.
Here I ams standing in a doorway.
Carvings of people and crocodiles in the water.
A closeup of the crocodile that has that man's leg in his mouth.

Crocodile with a fish in his mouth and a giant fish.
Men in boats with many fish in the water.
A tree full of birds.
People making food.

Monkeys in a tree.
A hallway and entrance to Bayon.
Shallow Apsara carvings.
Doorway with corner Apsara carvings.

A closeup of the corner Apsaras.
Me standing near a pillar that used to hold a covered walkway.
Close up of me by the pillar.
Patricia peeks around a wall with two Apsaras.

I know these are the same Apsaras as before, but it's a little different angle.
When we visited Cambodia they allowed you to walk all over the temples and go where you wanted unless it was blocked for safety reasons. I imagine this will change if/when the temples begin to exhibit undue wear.
Faces adorn towers at Bayon. Most likely they are carvings of the Hindu god Brahma, the creator, who is often depicted with four heads.
A walkway between buildings at Bayon.

Stone windows.
Faces around the walkway.
Looking down into another floor.
A worn Bayon Naga. This one is hard to see but Nagas are guardian snake creatures with multiple heads. They are found all over Buddhist and Hindu Khmer temples. Less worn Nagas can be seen at other sites.

Next