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 |  Subject: Angkor Wat Temple  13/11/2010, 8:08 pm | |
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Built from 802 to 1220 AD by the Khmer civilization, the temples atAngkor represent one of the most enduring and astonishing architecturalachievements of humankind. The more than 100 stone structures that wesee today are the surviving remnants of a grand administrative,religious, and social metropolis. The other buildings (publicbuildings, palaces, homes, etc.) were actually built from wood and donot exist anymore.Conventional theories assume that the land where Angkor is locatedwas chosen as the settlement spot due to its strategic position formilitary purposes, as well as its agricultural potential. However,other scholars think that the location and the arrangement of Angkorwas based on planet-spanning sacred land from archaic periods.Angkor Wat was built early in 1100s by Suryavarman over an estimated30 years and honors Vishnu, the Hindu god. The ruins are a symbolicstructure of Hindu cosmology. This is actually the biggest monument inthe group, as well as the best preserved. The wonder is located about 4miles to the north of Siem Reap and south of Angkor Thom, and AngkorWat is only accessible from its gate to the west.Angkor Wat consists of a huge temple that symbolizes Mt. Meru, amythic mountain, and its 5 walls and moats are a representation ofmountainous chains, as well as the cosmic ocean. This temple was afunerary temple built for King Suryavarman II. The vast compound’sshort dimensions are aligned precisely along the north-south axis, andthe east to west axis was diverted deliberately 0.75° to give itsobservers an anticipation of the equinox in spring for 3 days.
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