PRASAT KHMER

• ANGKOR THOM ENCLOSURE & GATES

Title: the great city
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Walls constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII and successors
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1944-46, 1955, 1960
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal, Glaize, Groslier

• ANGKOR WAT

Title: the city that is a temple
Date: early 12th C
Style: Angkor Wat
Temple constructed by: Suryavarman II
Reigned: 1113-c.1150
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Vishnu)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908-11, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1961
Restored (by): Commaille, Trouvé, Brunet, Lagisquet

• BAKONG

Date: 881
Style: Preah Ko
Temple constructed rebuilt by: Jayavarman III, Indravarman I, Yasovarman II
Reigned: 877-c.886
Location: Roluos
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1936, 1936-43
Restored (by): Marchal, Glaize

• BANTEAY KDEI

Title: the citadel of the cells
Date: 1181
Style: Angkor Wat/Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920-22
Restored (by): Marchal, Batteur

• BANTEAY PREI

Title: the forest citadel
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist

• BANTEAY SAMRE

Title: the citadel of the Samre
Date: early 12th C
Style: Angkor Wat
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Suryavarman II, Yasovarman II, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: c.1150-1165
Location: Angkor
Religion:Brahmanic (Vishnu)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1930, 1936-44
Restored (by): Glaize

• BANTEAY SREI

Title: the citadel of the women
Date: 967
Style: Banteay Srei
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Rajendravarman, Jayavaraman V
Reigned: 944-968
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1924, 1931-1936
Restored (by): Parmentier, Goloubew, Marchal

• BAPHUON

Date: 1060
Style: Baphuon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Udayadityavarman II, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1050-1066
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908-14, 1916-18, 1950
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal

• BARAY (EAST) YASODHARATAKA

Title: reservoir
Date: 9th C
Style: centre East Mebon
Constructed: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location : East Baray
Infrastructure

• BARAY (NORTH) JAYATATAKA

Title: reservoir
Date: late 12th C
Style: centre Preah Khan
Constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location : Angkor
Infrastructure

• BARAY (SOUTH) INDRATATAKA

Title: reservoir
Date: 9th C
Style: centre Lolei
Constructed and rebuilt by: Indravarman I
Reigned: 877-c.886
Location : Roluos
Infrastructure

• BARAY (WEST) TUK THLA

Title: reservoir
Date: 11th C
Style: centre West Mebon
Constructed by: Suryavarman I
Reigned: 1002-1049
Location: West Baray
Infrastructure

• BAYON

Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1911-13, 1933, 1939-46
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal, Trouvé, Glaize

• BENG MEALEA

Title: the pond of Mealea
Date: early 12th
Style: Baphuon/Angkor Wat
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Yasovarman II, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: c.1150-1165
Location: Phnom Kulen
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1913 (research)
Restored (by): Mecquenem

• CHAPEL OF THE HOSPITAL

Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920
Restored (by): Marchal

• CHAU SAY TEVODA

Date: mid 12th C
Style: Angkor Wat
Temple constructed by: Sûryavarman II, Yasovarman II, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: c.1150-1165
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919-20, 1925-27, 1946
Restored (by): Marchal

• EAST MEBON

Date: 953
Style: Pre Rup
Temple constructed by: Rajendravarman
Reigned: 944-968
Location: East Baray
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1935-39
Restored (by): Marchal, Glaize

• KHLEANG (NORTH)

Title: storehouse
Date: early 11th C
Style: Khleang
Temple constructed by: Jayaviravarman
Reigned: 1002-1010
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1919-20
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal

• KHLEANG (SOUTH)

Title: storehouse
Date: early 11th C
Style: Khleang
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayaviravarman, Suryavarman I
Reigned: 1002-1049
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1919-20
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal

• KOH KER

Title: group
Date: c.928-c.941
Style: Koh Ker
Temples constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman IV
Reigned: c.928-c.941
Location: Koh Ker
Religion: Brahmanic

• KUTISVARA

Date: mid 10th C
Style: Preah Ko/Pre Rup
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman II, Rajendravarman
Reigned: 944-968
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1930
Restored (by): Marchal, Parmentier

• LOLEI

Date: 893
Style: Preah Ko/Bakheng
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Roluos
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)

• MANGALARTHA

Date: late 13th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: c.1243-1295
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1924
Restored (by): Marchal

• MONUMENT 486

Date: late 10th/13th C
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic/Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1918
Restored (by): Marchal

• NEAK POAN

Title: the entwined serpents
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1922-24, 1938-39
Restored (by): Marchal, Glaize

• PHIMEANAKAS

Title: the aerial palace
Date: early 11th C
Style: Khleang, Bakheng/Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman V, Udayaityvarman I, Suryavarman I
Reigned: 1002-1049
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1916-1918, 1944
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal, Glaize

• PHNOM BAKHENG

Date: c.907
Style: Bakheng
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919-30
Restored (by): Marchal

• PHNOM BOK

Title: the humped mountain
Date: c.900
Style: Bakheng
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1939
Restored (by): Glaize

• PHNOM KROM

Title: the downstream mountain
Date: c.900
Style: Bakheng
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Tonle Sap
Religion: Brahmanic (trinity)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1938
Restored (by): Glaize

• PHNOM KULEN GROUP

Date: c.825-875
Style: Kulen
Temples constructed by: Jayavarman II
Reigned: 802-850
Location: Phnom Kulen
Religion: Brahmanic

• PRASAT AK YUM

Date: 8th C
Style: pre-Angkorian
Location: West Baray
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1932-35
Restored (by): Trouvé

• PRASAT BAKSEI CHAMKRONG

Title: the bird with sheltering wings
Date: 948
Style: rededicated Bakheng/Koh Ker
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Hashavarman I, Râjendravarman
Reigned: 944-968
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919
Restored (by): Marchal

• PRASAT BAT CHUM

Date: 960
Style: Pre Rup
Temple constructed by: Rajendravarman
Reigned: 944-968
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist

• PRASAT BEI

Title: the three towers
Date: 10th C
Style: Bakheng
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919, 1960s
Restored (by): Marchal, Groslier

• PRASAT CHRUNG

Title: the corner shrines
Date: early 13th C
Style: Bayon
Temples constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII and VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Iinfrastructure

• PRASAT KRAVAN

Title: the cardamom sanctuary
Date: 921
Style: Bakheng/Koh Ker
Temple constructed by: Harshavarman I
Reigned: c.915-923
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1929-31, 1935
Restored (by): Marchal, Trouvé

• PRASAT KROL KO

Title: the sanctuary in the corral for oxen
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1922-24
Restored (by): Marchal

• PRASAT LEAK NEANG

Title: the sanctuary of the hidden maiden
Date: 960

• PRASAT PREI

Title: the sanctuary in the forest
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1934
Restored (by): Mauger

• PRASAT THMOR BAI KAEK

Title: the rock that's a place to put rice for the crows
Date: 10th C
Temple constructed by: Yasovarman I
Reigned: 889-c.915
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1945
Restored (by): Glaize

• PRASAT SUOR PROAT

Title: the towers of the rope dancers
Date: 13th C
Style: post-Bayon
Temples constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1919-20, 1955-56
Restored (by): Commaille, Marchal

• PRE RUP

Title: to turn, or change, the body
Date: 961
Style: Pre Rup
Temple constructed by: Rajendravarman
Reigned: 944-968
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1922-35
Restored (by): Marchal, Trouvé

• PREAH KHAN

Title: the sacred sword
Date: 1191
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1927-32, 1939, 1946
Restored (by): Marchal, Glaize

• PREAH KO

Title: the sacred bull (Nandin)
Date: 880
Style: Preah Ko
Temples constructed and rebuilt by: Indravarman I
Reigned: 877-c.886
Location: Roluos
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1932-33
Restored (by): Trouvé

• PREAH PALILAY

Date: 13th C
Style: Angkor Wat/Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII? Srindravarman
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1918-19, 1937-38
Restored (by): Marchal, Glaize

• PREAH PITHU

Date: 13th C
Style: Angkor Wat/Bayon
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Suryavarman II, Jayavarman VIII, Srindravarman
Reigned: c.1150
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Brahmanic/Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1908, 1918-20

• PREI MONTI

Date: 9th C
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman III
Reigned: 835-877
Location: Roluos
Religion: Brahmanic

• ROYAL PALACE

Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Palace constructed and rebuilt by: Suryavarman I, Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Infrastructure

• SPEAN THMOR

Title: the stone bridge
Date: 16th C
Style: post-Bayon
Location: Angkor
Infrastructure
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920
Restored (by): Marchal

• SRAS SRONG

Title: the royal bathing pool
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Pool constructed and rebuilt by: Rajendravarman,
Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920
Restored (by): Marchal

• TA KEO

Title: the ancestor Keo
Date: early 11th C
Style: Khleang
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman V, Jayaviravarman
Reigned: 1002-1010
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic (Shiva)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920-22
Restored (by): Marchal, Batteur

• TA NEI

Title: the ancestor Nei
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temples constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist

• TA PROHM (BRAHMA)

Title: Ancestor Prohm (Brahmâ)
Date: 1186
Style: the ancestor Prohm
Temple constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1920
Restored (by): Marchal

• TA PROHM KEL

Title: the ancestor Prohm (slithering)
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman VII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919
Restored (by): Marchal

• TA SOM

Title: the ancestor Som
Date: late 12th C
Style: Bayon
Terraces constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1930
Restored (by): Marchal

• TEP PRANAM

Title: the worshipping god
Date: c.16th C
Style: post-Bayon
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1918, 1950
Restored (by): Marchal

• TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS

Date: late 12th
Style: Bayon
Terraces constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1911, 1916, 1952
Restored (by): Mecquenem, Marchal

• TERRACE OF THE LEPER KING

Date: 13th C
Style: Bayon
Terraces constructed and rebuilt by: Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII
Reigned: 1181-c.1220
Location: Angkor Thom
Religion: Buddhist
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1911, 1917, 1972
Restored (by): Mecquenem, Marchal, Groslier

• THOMMANON

Date: early 12th C
Style: Angkor Wat
Temple constructed by: Suryavarman II
Reigned: 1113-c.1150
Location: Angkor
Religion: Brahmanic
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1919-20, 1925-27, 1946, 1960s
Restored (by): Marchal, Laur, Groslier

• TRAPEANG PHONG

Date: 9th C
Temple constructed by: Jayavarman III
Reigned: 835-877
Location: Roluos
Religion: Brahmanic

• WEST MEBON
  

Date: mid 11th C
Style: Baphuon
Temple constructed by: Udayadityavarman II
Reigned: 1050-1066
Location: West Baray
Religion: Brahmanic (Vishnu)
Historic restoration by members of the EFEO
Restored (date): 1942-44

Khmer art history

• Prehistory

Several prehistoric sites are known in Cambodia (inc. Samrong Sen, Anlong Phdao, Melou Prei, and Laang Spean). It is believed that many more prehistoric sites exist, but have yet to be discovered. However, remnants of circular earthwork villages dating from the Neolithic times are found in the province of Kompong Cham.

Ancient stone, bronze tools and weapons, enigmatic bronze drums similar to those found at the Dong Son site in Vietnam (thought to be used in rain and war ceremonies), and ancient ceramics have been found and documented. Current archaeological research into Cambodia’s extensive prehistory will no doubt provide better insight into the lives of the people who made these objects, and give us a more concrete time-frame for their dates of manufacture.

• Ceramics

Recent archaeological excavations at Angkor Borei (in southern Cambodia) have recovered a large number of ceramics, some of which probably date back to the prehistoric period. Most of the pottery, however, dates to the pre-Angkorian period and consists mainly of pinkish terracotta pots which were either hand-made or thrown on a wheel, and then decorated with incised patterns.

Glazed wares first appear in the archaeological record at the end of the 9th century at the Roluos temple group in the Angkor region, where green-glazed pot shards have been found. A brown glaze became popular at the beginning of the 11th century and brown-glazed wares have been found in abundance at Khmer sites in northeast Thailand. Decorating pottery with animal forms was a popular style from the 11th to 13th century. Archaeological excavations in the Angkor region have revealed that towards the end of Angkor period production of indigenous pottery declined while there was a dramatic increase in Chinese ceramic imports.

Direct evidence of the shapes of vessels is provided by scenes depicted on bas-reliefs at Khmer temples, which also offer insight into domestic and ritualistic uses of the wares. The wide range of utilitarian shapes suggest the Khmers used ceramics in their daily life for cooking, food preservation, carrying and storing liquids, as containers for medicinal herbs, perfumes and cosmetics.

• Bronzes

Use of bronze-casting began in Cambodia sometime between 1,500 and 1,000 BCE. It is widely assumed that this technology was introduced to Southeast Asia through contact with the Chinese, but the possibility of independent development of bronze casting in Southeast Asia has yet to be conclusively ruled out. Whatever the case, bronze-casting had become a major industry throughout mainland Southeast Asia by 500 CE - at which time bronze was used to make a wide range of tools, weapons, ritual objects and ornaments.

After Indian political and religious ideas began permeating Cambodia (around the time of Christ), a tradition of casting bronze Hindu and Buddhist divinities emerged. This tradition reached its pinnacle of output and skill during the Angkor period. The large bronze figure of the ‘Reclining Vishnu’ (late 11th century) demonstrates the level of mastery which Khmer bronze artists achieved. The museum’s Bronze Gallery contains bronzes dating from the 7th to 20th century.

Besides the objects which were made in veneration of religious divinities, the other types of bronzes on display can be divided into two categories: ritual objects and secular goods. Many of the ritual objects in the collection, including popils (stylised candle holders), bells, bowls and conches for ritual water, are still used in a variety of Khmer ceremonies today. Many of the secular goods are objects which would have been bestowed by the royal court as insignia of rank for officials. These include ornate hooks for palanquins, gilded rings from the handles of parasols, fans, and military or official seals.

• Pre-Angkor period

Recent excavations at a site known as Angkor Borei and earlier work at Oc-Eo are confirming that this region was the site of important kingdoms that predate the Angkor empire - those of Funan and Zhenla (Chenla).

The oldest known Khmer stone sculptures date to the early 6th century and were found in cave temples which were carved into the side of Phnom Da, a small hill near Angkor Borei. Angkor Borei, today a small town in the Mekong Delta region, was a major city-centre within what is thought to have been the first large-scale centralised Khmer state (c.1st-6th century; often called ‘Funan’ as it was denoted in Chinese annals of the period).

The Phnom Da sculptures were carved from single blocks of fine-grained sandstone and depict both Buddhist and Hindu divinities. Although the sculptures reveal traditional Indian stylistic influences, one can also see that the Khmer artists strove to break away from their mentors. Moving away from the Indian tradition of sculpting in high-relief, the Khmers attempted to make free-standing statues, supported by an arch or by an attribute of the divinity (such as a piece of clothing or a hand-held object).

In the 7th and 8th centuries, the power base shifted north to the plains east of the Tonle Sap Lake. Funan’s dominance ended when King Isanavarman I established the first capital of this new power centre (called ‘Zhenla’) at ‘Ishanapura’ (Sambor) in present day Kompong Thom province. In the 8th century, Zhenla was divided into two competing powers, ‘Land Zhenla’ and ‘Water Zhenla’. This situation remained until Jayavarman II set up a capital on Mount Mahendraparvata (Phnom Kulen) in the Angkor region in 802 and successfully unified the Khmer people.

The majority of the sculptures from Zhenla and Funan depict Vishnu, while another popular deity, Shiva, is usually symbolised by a linga (stone phallus). Pre-Angkorian sculptors often combined these two Hindu divinities into one deity, called Harihara. Statues of Buddha and other Buddhist divinities were also popular with pre-Angkorian artists of both Funan and Zhenla. The Zhenla period saw an increase in relief carvings on stone lintels and pediments.

• Angkor period

Cambodia is rich in sandstone deposits. Throughout the Angkorian period, sandstone was quarried from the Kulen hills (to the north of Angkor) and floated on rafts along rivers and canals to the building sites.

The first recognisable art style of the Angkorian period is the Kulen style (c.825-75), named after the hill on which Jayavarman II built his capital and had his royal consecration ceremony initiating the cult of the devaraja (god-king) which would be followed by all subsequent Angkorian kings. This style was the first to dispense with supporting arches - as a result the figures became heavier. The body is sculpted rigidly upright with distinctive Khmer features - round faces and broad brows.

The Koh Ker style (941-944) shows another interesting development with gigantic figures - human and animal, captured in dynamic movement. ‘The Wrestlers’ and the ‘Monkey Kings, Valin and Sugriva’, are good examples of this style. In contrast, the Banteay Srei style of the late 10th century is unique in the intricacy and richness of the decoration, and the warm tones of the pink sandstone.

The statues of the Baphuon style (1010-1080) are slim and graceful. This was made possible by adding subtle supports behind the ankles. The eyes are often incised and they may have been fitted with gems and precious metals.

The Angkor Wat style (1100-1175) presents the highest achievements in architecture and ornamentation of buildings and bas-reliefs. Besides the world famous Angkor Wat temple, Phimai temple (in Thailand) was also constructed during this period. Sculpted figures are upright, muscular and formal, and are prominently adorned with ornate belts and jewelled necklaces and bracelets.

The Bayon style of the late 12th to early 13th century, produced a great number of Buddhist images due to the religious preference of King Jayavarman VII. Still highly revered today as one of the greatest Khmer kings, Jayavarman VII, although a devout Buddhist, was tolerant of other religions as evidenced by the combination of Hindu and Buddhist symbols in Bayon art. An example of this is the portrayal of Buddha wearing a diadem (ornamented crown) similar to that normally worn by Vishnu. The intention was to portray the Buddha as a powerful universal monarch in keeping with the contemporary images of Hindu gods. Another defining aspect of the Bayon style is the development of portraiture-particularly the portrayal of royalty in the guise of Buddhist deities.

• Post-Angkor period

Not long after the end of Jayavarman VII’s reign, stone art production and monumental temple building become almost non-existent in Khmer culture. With the wide-spread conversion to Theravada Buddhism (c.15th century), wood becomes the primary medium for Khmer sculpture. Although wood would have certainly been used for statues since pre-Angkorian times, due to its susceptibility to rapid decay, only a small number of wood statues have survived from the late Angkorian period.

In post-Angkorian wood sculpture, artists began applying one or two layers of lacquer which played a decorative as well as protective role. Also during this period, artists developed the technique of decorating wood figures with encrusted ornaments - frequently using ivory, mother-of-pearl, or vitrified lead inlays. Most of the wooden statues in the museum’s collection were carved in the last few centuries. One can see varied influences in many of the post-Angkorian works of art.

History Of Angkor Era

1///JayavarmanII(802-834A.D.)

Jayavarman II, when as a prince, was being held as a Chenla hostage to the Java court. Getting a chance to return to his motherland, he vigorously pursued for powers and became the king in 790 A.D. For the next 12 years, he carried out many battles around the regions and tried to seek a perfect home for his own kingdom.

When Jayavarman II became stronger, he decided to establish his capital Hariharala in the region of Roluos on the plain northwest of Tonle Sap.

In 802, Jayavarman II crowned himself for the second time, which marked as a starting point of the Khmer Civilization and the birth of the Angkor Empire. He made a breakthrough by proclaiming himself to be a universal monarch of Khmer in a ritual ceremony borrowed from Hinduism as a "god-king" or deva-raja. In the ritual, he worshipped god Shiva, a supreme Hindu deity, who was known by the Khmer for a long time as a god of protector. Being revered as a god-king, King Jayavarman II had psychologically asserted his divine kingship over the Khmer of his absolute authority and sovereignty. Moreover, it implied the declaration of Independence from Java Empire.

Adopting the Indian concept of divine kingship was proven to be a very clever strategy and served as a strong root for the steady growth of the Angkor Civilization. A rational reason as of why Jayavarman II adopted this concept could have lie in the fact that the Indian civilization had already been set as a successful example in Indian subcontinent. Every monarch or deva-raja from Jayavarman II onwards was highly revered with divine loyalty. The nation was strongly unified and later evolved into an empire.

Moreover, Jayavarman II did not select the location of his capital at random. He considered its strategic location in term of military. At that time, his potential enemies were in the south and in the east. Situated inland with thick rugged forests, his kingdom could be accessed only through river tributary of Tonle Sap lake. Being at the north of the lake, it meant that his force was at the river upstream which was an added advantage. This also had proved to be a right strategy for the existence of the Angkor Empire for over 600 years as it lost only one major naval battle against Champa in 1177.

After the establishment of Angkor kingdom, Jayavarman II actively waged wars throughout Cambodia and expanded his territory. He built a temple devoted to god Shiva at Phnom Kulen about 40 km northwest of Tonle Sap. King Jayavarman II reigned until 834 A.D.; "Jaya" literally means "victorious" and "varman" - "the protector".

2///Jayavarman III (834 - 877 A.D.)

After the death of the first Khmer king, his son Jayavarman III succeeded the throne and reigned for about 40 years. Little account was known about this king, except his story of hunting the white elephants in two circumstances and he could probably build the Prei Monti temple.

3///Indravarman I (877-889 A.D.)

He was the third king of the Angkor kingdom after Jayavarman III, and was regarded as the first great builder of the Khmer king. How Indravarman I ascended the throne still remains in mystery as he did not seem to have any connection with the two former kings. Indravarman I was a strong man, expanding his territory vigorously throughout Cambodia and moving his capital from Harilaraya to Roluos, about thirteen kilometers east of the present Siemreap town.

Indravarman I built at least two primitive Khmer temples, namely the Preah Ko temple, devoted for his royal ancestral spirits, and the Bakong, a mountain temple dedicated for the Hindu gods. These two temples with another later one Lolei are collectively known as the Roluos Group, and their architecture was more or less a pioneer to the later temples of the Angkor civilization. Indravarman I also built a large reservoir named Indratataka.

4///Yasovarman I (889 - 910 A.D.)

After succeeding the throne in 889 A.D, Yasovarman I built a new Angkor capital called Yasodharapura, located not far away from Roluos on the vast plain of Siemreap and about eight kilometers north of the the Great Lake Tonle Sap. At the center of this capital was the Phnom Bakeng Hill on top of which a temple was built with its galleries branching out in four directions to represent the heavenly residence of Hindu gods with the central Mount Meru and the other four sacred peaks.

Yasovarman I built one of the largest reservoirs in the Angkor Kingdom known as East Baray or "Yasohodharataka", with a length of 7.5 kilometers, a width of 1.83 kilometer and approximate depth of 4-5 meters. The water capacity of East Baray was estimated at 55 million cubic meters, and this water was used to irrigate over 8,000 hectares of farmland. Sanskrit inscriptions were found on the stele at each corner of the East Baray to praise the Hindu goddess Ganga, being revered in India as the river-mother goddess of the great Ganges River.

About half a kilometer south of East Baray, Yasovarman I built four ashramas which were the retreating residence of the serious religious believers. Apart from carrying out religious practice, each abbot of the ashramas was found to be somewhat like the manager of the king to help in controlling the water of the East Baray.

Today the East Baray is completely dry, and the four ashramas disappear. The Pre Rup temple was built on top of one of these ashramas.

5///Harshavarman I (910 - 923 A.D.) and Isanavarman II (923 - 928 A.D)

After the death of Yasovarman I, his son Harshavarman I became the next king who ruled over the Angkor for more than a decade. The two monuments built during Harshavarman I were the Baksei Chamkrong, a laterite temple north-east of Phnom Bakheng, and Prasat Kravan, built of bricks dedicated to god Vishnu. The reign was followed by his brother Isanavarman II whose historical record was null.

6///Jayavarman IV ( 928 - 941 A.D.)

Possibly Jayavarman IV descended from the different maternal line of his preceding king and already held some power at Koh Ker since 921 A.D. When Isanavarman II died in 928, Jayavarman IV ascended the throne and move the capital to his town of Koh Ker which was about 90 kilometers north of the Angkor. At his new capital, Jayavarman IV had constructed an obscure Rahal Baray, untraditionally lying north-south direction, and difficult to engineer. It seems that the sandstone was first introduced as the building materials of the Khmer monuments during this time, as the 7-story pyramid built by this king as his state temple was made up of sandstones. Koh Ker remained as the capital for a short period of about 15 years.

7///Harshavarman II (941 - 944 A.D)

He was the son of Jayavarman IV, but was not the designated crown prince. Harshavarman II ascended the throne by force with the help of his cousin who later would become the next king. During the reign of Harshavarman II, repetitive unrests and rebels broke out and could possibly cause the death of this king.

8///Rajendravarman II (944 - 968 A.D.)

As soon as Harshavarman II died, his cousin Rajendravarman II grasped the power and mounted the throne. He returned to Angkor as his capital, and started to build the mountain-temple of Pre Rup which was sited on top the ashramas installed by Yasovarman I.

Attaining his kingship in an unrighteous way, Rajendravarman II encountered difficulties in keeping his crown as successive rebellions from his rivals occurred during his reign. To acquire strong supports, Rajendravarman II reordered the state by dividing the kingdom into vishaya or provinces whose rulers were his loyal chieftains.

Interestingly, a new myth of Khmer ancestors - Kambu and Mera, first appeared in the stone inscription during this time and was totally different from that of Brahmin Kaundinya and naga princess Soma. This myth praised the legendary Kambu's couple exorbitantly as the Khmer ancestors and the word "Kambuja" means the descendant of Kambu. Probably this legend had been in existence for a long time since the period of Chenla, but was first picked up by Rajendravarman II as his ancestors since he needed some sort of medium to persuade the people of his right to the throne.

Evidently, Rajendravarman II had a strong military power as he did not only wage civil war with his rivals, but even sacked the Champa Kingdom located to the east in modern Vietnam and the Thai tribal states to the west.

9///Jayavarman V (968 - 1000 A.D.)

He was the son of Rajendravarman II and succeeded the supreme throne after his father in 968 A.D. Jayavarman V had to fight vigorously with other princes in order to maintain his kingship. For some reasons, he built a new capital at the vicinity of Angkor and named it "Jayendranagari" with the meaning of "the Capital of the Triumphant Monarch", which implied his victory over the enemies. During his reign, two major complex were constructed, i.e. Banteay Srei and Takeo.

10///Udayadityavarman I (1001 - 1002 A.D.) & Jayaviravarman (1002 - 1010 A.D.)

When Jayavarman V passed away in 1000 A.D., the historical account of his royal family disappeared with the emergence of the new king named Udayadityavarman I, who became the king through violent conflict. He ruled only for a few years before being ousted and killed in 1002. This was followed by the struggle of power of the two princes, Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I. The former prince ascended the supreme throne in 1002, but his regime was consistently challenged by his rival Suryavarman I, who successfully overthrew king in 1010. During this decade of civil war, no significant monument was built.

11///Suryavarman I (1010 - 1050 A.D.)

His reign was rather long but not very smooth, and Suryavarman I spent much of his time and energy to defend his kingship. He was the first king who built his palace surrounded by the wall in order to fortify himself from being attacked and this palace was situated in the vicinity of later Angkor Thom. Suryavarman I proclaimed to be the descendant of Brahmin Kaundinya and princess Soma. Later in 1022 A.D, Suryavarman I expanded his territory to the West up to the Lopburi in modern Thailand. The major construction built by this king was the Preah Vihear on the Dangrek Mountain and the Phimeanakas, a modest temple with pyramidal style located near his palace. Suryavarman I also started to build the second Angkor's reservoir, the West Baray which is almost twice as large as the East Baray.

12///Udayadityavarman II (1050 - 1066 A.D.)

Mounting to the supreme throne after the death of his predecessor, Udayadityavarman II ruled over the Angkor Kingdom without peace. He was not the son of Suryavarman I, but a descendant from the different lineage of Yasovarman I's spouse. The stone inscription during his reign praised one of his faithful general Sangrama who quell several major rebellions for the king. Udayadityavarman II built the renowned Baphoun Temple devoted to god Shiva, however, it appeared that some stone sculptures were also dedicated to Lord Buddha. This king completed the construction of the West Baray started since the time of his former king, and built the West Mebon, a raise-earthen island, in the center of it. A temple dedicated to god Vishnu was constructed on the island, but now had long been vanished. The West Baray is still in use today.

13///Harshavarman III (1066 - 1080 A.D.)

Following the death of Udayadityavarman II, the new king Harshavarman III who was the former king's older brother, mounted the throne. No monument built by this king was known and there was very few historical account referred to this king, who was believed to die in a violent rebellion.

14///Jayavarman VI (1080 - 1107 A.D.)

Ascending the throne in 1080 A.D., Jayavarman VI did not seem to have any direct connection with the royal family of the preceding kings. Probably he was from the different maternal sub-lineage, which was too far to entitle his right to the crown. The center of his ancestors' power was more or less to the West of the Angkor in the area of Phimai, now in Thailand. Jayavarman VI claimed to be the descendents of legendary Kambu and Mera, which was different from his immediate predecessors. This could imply that he succeeded the throne through violent conflict.

During his reign, there was rarely any monument built, except the one at the center of his power - the Phimai temple.

15///Dharanindravarman I (1107 - 1113 A.D.)

Jayavarman VI died in 1107, and the throne was followed by his elder brother Dharanindravarman I. This king was less ambitious as well as less energetic. He was ousted and killed in a civil war which lasted for only one day by his nephew who later became one of the greatest king of the Angkor, Suryavarman II.

16//Suryavarman II (1113 - 1150 A.D.)

Upon rising to power, Suryavarman II was a highly ambitious Khmer king. He was the great builder of the most impressive temple of Khmer, the Angkor Wat which is one of the World's Wonders with its magnificent architecture. Angkor Wat is a mountain temple dedicated to god Vishnu with five towers linked by galleries to signify the heavenly residence of Hindu gods. It is 65 meters high and the outer rectangular enclosure mesuring 1.5 km by 1.3 km which is surrounded by moat of 200 meters wide. In addition to its remarkable size, Angkor Wat also houses thousands of sculptures and stone carvings which amplify the delicacy of Khmer artworks. It took 37 years to complete the construction of this temple with over 50,000 workforce.

Apart from being a great royal builder, Suryavarman II was also a great warrior. He sacked several Champa states to the east and even waged an unsuccessful war with the strong Ly Dynasty of Vietnam. To the west, he conquered the Haripunjaya Kingdom, one of the Mon tribal states in central Thailand, and extended his power to as far north to the southern border of modern Laos and as far south to the border of Grahi Kingdom in Malay Peninsula which was around the present-day Nakorn Sithammarat, a southern province of modern Thailand. His territory expanded up to the border of the Pagan kingdom (ancient Burma) in the West.

Other monuments, in addition to Angkor wat, built during the reign of Suryavarman II are Beng Melea, Banteay Samre, Chey Say Tevoda, Thommanon.

17///Minor Reigns (1150 - 1181 A.D.)

Surprisingly the final destiny of this great king still remains in mystery. The last inscription referring to Suryavarman II was carved in 1145 A.D. with his preparation to invade Vietnam and probably he died sometime between 1145 and 1150 in a battlefield.

The death of Suryavarman II led to the decline of the Angkor Empire for a short interval and the successive kings were rather weak as well as tyrannical. The reign was followed by Dharanindravarman II (1150 - 1160 A.D.), Yasovarman II (1160 - 1165 A.D.), and Tribhuvanadityavarman (1165 - 1181 A.D.), respectively. Yasovarman II siezed the power from Dharanindravarman II, and in turn, was ousted by Tribhuvanadityavarman.

In 1177, a Champa King, who was the bitter enemy of the Khmer, attacked the Angkor by sailing his troops up along the Mekong River. A fierce naval battle was fought on the Great Lake of Tonle Sap and resulted in the painful defeat of the Angkor which subsequently fell into the hand of the Champa. The current Khmer king Tribhuvandityavarman was under the subjugation of the Champa until 1181.

18///Jayavarman VII (1181 - 1219 A.D.)

Being a Khmer prince, Jayavarman VII was formerly a chieftain since the time of Yasovarman II and ruled over a Champa province or vishaya which was under the Angkor's authority. When the Chams seized the Angkor in 1177, Jayavarman VII determined to fight against the intruders and was able to re-capture the Angkor's capital Yasodharapura, where he ascended the throne in 1181. The war with the Champa kingdom did not terminate immediately but continued for another twenty years. In 1203, Jayavarman VII had a final victory and conquered the Champa kingdom.

Jayavarman VII was the last greatest king of the Angkor. Not only liberalizing and unifying the country, he was also a profound builder with the marvelous achievement in building the new capital of Angkor Thom, lying on the plain of Siemreap north of Angkor Wat. At the center of Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, famous for its distinct 50 towers, each bearing the large faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshavara (a lord Buddha) on the four sides. These faces are thought to be copied from the actual face of Jayavarman VII, and whose smiles are so gentle that it is often referred to as "the Khmer smile". This great king was a devout Buddhist of the Mahayana sect.

In addition to Angkor Thom and Bayon, Jayavarman VII also built other impressive temples and monuments such as Ta Phrom, Banteay Kdei, Neak Pean, and Sras Srang.

Moreover, Jayavarman VII constructed an extensive road network throughout his empire and thus linked all the major towns to Angkor. This efficient road system facilitated the transportation of agricultural products and goods. Along these roads, this great and benevolent king had also built 121 resting houses to accommodate the travelers and the officials, and 102 hospitals to accommodate the sick.

The reign of Jayavarman VII was marked as the peak period of the Angkor Empire as well as of the Khmer Civilization, which began to decline gradually after the death of this great king in 1219 A.D.

19///Indravarman II (1219 - 1243 A.D.)

The supreme throne was succeeded by Jayavarman VII's son - Indravarman II who was also a devout Buddhist. Perhaps many of the great works of temples' construction initiated by Jayavarman VII were continued and completed by Indravarman II. Interestingly, few historical records about this king remains and probably were destroyed by his enemy who was his successor.

It was quite obvious that the Angkor power began to decline almost immediately. In 1220, the Khmers retreated from many of the Champa states that they had conquered earlier. At the same time, the Thai state succeeded to drive away the Khmer from the western frontier and established the first Thai kingdom of Sukhothai, whose descendants were to become the major threats to the Angkor Empire in the next two centuries.

20///Jayavarman VIII (1243 - 1295 A.D.)

It could have been a bad luck for some portions of Khmer history that Jayavarman VIII became the king by abducting the throne from his predecessor. Jayavarman VIII was a strong believer in Hinduism, but a brutal enemy to Buddhism. He was responsible for the massive destruction of the Buddha statues in the empire, the number of which was estimated to be over tens of thousands and very few remained. The main Buddha statue in the central shrine of Bayon was replaced with the Hindu god Harihara and that Buddha statue was found to be sliced into three pieces. Innumerable number of Buddha images in the other temples such as Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and etc. met with the same fate but being completely destroyed. Moreover, Jayavarman VIII was also found to transform many Buddhist temples into the Hindu ones, so it was not surprising if he were to carry out the similar practice of erasing his predecessors' historical records.

During the reign of Jayavarman VIII, the Mongol troops of Kublai Khan attacked the border of Angkor Empire from the east in the year 1283. Jayavarman VIII was wise enough not to wage any war with the invincible Mongols at that time. He decided to pay tributes instead and thus his empire survived. This could possibly be the only credit this king had during his reign.

In 1295, Jayavarman VIII and his tyrannical regime was overthrown by his own son-in-law Srindravarman who was a Buddhist.

21///Srindravarman (1295 - 1309 A.D.)

He was a devout Buddhist, not of the Mahayana sect but the Theravada one. The first inscription engraved in Pali indicated that the royal family had adopted Theravada Buddhism as their main religion, and thus the king was no longer regarded as deva-raja or "god-king". Theravada Buddhism was introduced from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and gradually infiltrated into every level of the people.

In 1296, Zhou Daguan, the Chinese ambassador from Yuan Dynasty (Mongol), visited Angkor Empire and wrote an important historical document in Chinese Chronicle about the Khmer, especially the everyday life of the normal people which significantly help us to have a better and clearer picture of this civilization. Zhou Daguan returned to China in 1297.

22///Minor Reigns (1309 - 1431 A.D.)

Since the reign of Srindravarman, there were very rare historical records, especially of those successive kings following him in the 14th century. The last stele engraved in 1327 was in Pali and there was no more inscription found for the next two centuries. Perhaps the Khmer had changed their practice by writing on the unendurable materials such as the latina leaves and animal's skin rather than by engraving on the stones. Moreover, there were no more major temples or monuments built during this period. Their newly adopted religion of Theravada Buddhism could have played a major role here. As the king was no longer regarded as the god-king or "deva-raja", it was not necessary to build any massive mountain temple to house their gods and to represent the heavenly residence.

During this period, the Khmers were not able to maintain their vast and extensive irrigation systems efficiently. Various dikes and canals were silted up. The rice crops, previously used to be cultivated two to three times a year, dropped drastically since the Khmers could not prevent floods in Monsoon, and did not have enough water storage in the dry season. As productivity dropped, the empire was weaken. Probably, the kings lacked absolute power to mobilize sufficient laborers to maintain their irrigation system.

The first Thai kingdom of Suhkothai, emerged after the Khmers were driven out in the early 13th century, was later absorbed by another Thai state which was established as the Ayuthaya kingdom in 1351 by Ramathibodi I. The Ayuthaya kingdom became a major threat to Angkor Empire with its first attempt to attack the Angkor, but unsuccessfully in 1352. Several more attempts were made in the following years. Not until 1431, the large Thai army marched on the road, built by the last greatest Khmer king Jayavarman VII, from Chao Phaya River Basin through Aranyapathet to attack right at the heart of Angkor and sacked the city that same year. This marked the end of Angkor Empire.

Well-known King In Angkor

• Jayavarman II(before 802)
  

Jayavarman II, when as a prince, was being held as a Chenla hostage to the Java court. Getting a chance to return to his motherland, he vigorously pursued for powers and became the king in 790 A.D. For the next 12 years, he carried out many battles around the regions and tried to seek a perfect home for his own kingdom.

When Jayavarman II became stronger, he decided to establish his capital Hariharala in the region of Roluos on the plain northwest of Tonle Sap.

In 802, Jayavarman II crowned himself for the second time, which marked as a starting point of the Khmer Civilization and the birth of the Angkor Empire. He made a breakthrough by proclaiming himself to be a universal monarch of Khmer in a ritual ceremony borrowed from Hinduism as a "god-king" or deva-raja. In the ritual, he worshipped god Shiva, a supreme Hindu deity, who was known by the Khmer for a long time as a god of protector. Being revered as a god-king, King Jayavarman II had psychologically asserted his divine kingship over the Khmer of his absolute authority and sovereignty. Moreover, it implied the declaration of Independence from Java Empire.

Adopting the Indian concept of divine kingship was proven to be a very clever strategy and served as a strong root for the steady growth of the Angkor Civilization. A rational reason as of why Jayavarman II adopted this concept could have lie in the fact that the Indian civilization had already been set as a successful example in Indian subcontinent. Every monarch or deva-raja from Jayavarman II onwards was highly revered with divine loyalty. The nation was strongly unified and later evolved into an empire.

Moreover, Jayavarman II did not select the location of his capital at random. He considered its strategic location in term of military. At that time, his potential enemies were in the south and in the east. Situated inland with thick rugged forests, his kingdom could be accessed only through river tributary of Tonle Sap lake. Being at the north of the lake, it meant that his force was at the river upstream which was an added advantage. This also had proved to be a right strategy for the existence of the Angkor Empire for over 600 years as it lost only one major naval battle against Champa in 1177.

After the establishment of Angkor kingdom, Jayavarman II actively waged wars throughout Cambodia and expanded his territory. He built a temple devoted to god Shiva at Phnom Kulen about 40 km northwest of Tonle Sap. King Jayavarman II reigned until 834 A.D.; "Jaya" literally means "victorious" and "varman" - "the protector".

• Yasovarman I (889 - 910 )

After succeeding the throne in 889 A.D, Yasovarman I built a new Angkor capital called Yasodharapura, located not far away from Roluos on the vast plain of Siemreap and about eight kilometers north of the the Great Lake Tonle Sap. At the center of this capital was the Phnom Bakeng Hill on top of which a temple was built with its galleries branching out in four directions to represent the heavenly residence of Hindu gods with the central Mount Meru and the other four sacred peaks.

Yasovarman I built one of the largest reservoirs in the Angkor Kingdom known as East Baray or "Yasohodharataka", with a length of 7.5 kilometers, a width of 1.83 kilometer and approximate depth of 4-5 meters. The water capacity of East Baray was estimated at 55 million cubic meters, and this water was used to irrigate over 8,000 hectares of farmland. Sanskrit inscriptions were found on the stele at each corner of the East Baray to praise the Hindu goddess Ganga, being revered in India as the river-mother goddess of the great Ganges River.

About half a kilometer south of East Baray, Yasovarman I built four ashramas which were the retreating residence of the serious religious believers. Apart from carrying out religious practice, each abbot of the ashramas was found to be somewhat like the manager of the king to help in controlling the water of the East Baray.

Today the East Baray is completely dry, and the four ashramas disappear. The Pre Rup temple was built on top of one of these ashramas

• Suryavarman II (1113 - 1150)

Suryavarman II, son of Ksitindradity and Narendralakshmi, Khmer king renowned as a religious reformer and temple builder. Under his rule the temple of Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure, was constructed.

Suryavarman II defeated rival claimants, Harshavarman III and Dharanindravarman I, to the throne and established sole rule over Cambodia, reuniting the country after more than 50 years of unrest. He was formally crowned in 1113, with his guru, the powerful priest Divakarapandita, presiding. The King was a religious reformer who blended the mystical cults of Vishnu and Siva, supreme Hindu deities, and promulgated Vaisnavism as the official religion, rather than Buddhism, which had briefly flourished under his predecessors.

Angkor Wat, dedicated to Vishnu, was begun in the early year of Suryavarman's reign and was not finished until after his death. Surrounded by a wall and a moat, the building is decorated with sculptures portraying Suryavarman as Vishnu; he is shown reviewing his troops, holding audiences, and performed other functions of a sovereign. Suryavarman also sponsored the construction of several other temples in the style of Angkor Wat. He completed or at least decorated and furnished the massive temple of Wat Phu (in present day Laos), which was started by Suryavarman I.

In 1116 Suryavarman resumed diplomatic relation with China, which had been broken early in the reign of Jayavarman II, by sending tribute to Chinese Imperial Court.

From 1123 until 1136 Suryavarman II waged a series of unsuccessful campaigns against Dai Viet, the Vietnamese kingdom that had asserted its independence from China in 939. In 1128 he is said to have led some 20,000 soldiers against Dai Viet at Nghe An, but he was defeated and driven out. A few months later, Suryavarman's fleet of 700 vessels began a long harassment along the coast in the Gulf of Tonkin. Suryavarman coerced the kingdom of Champa to assist him in these efforts. In 1132 the combined forces of Cambodia and Champa again invaded Nghe An, but were driven out. In 1136 the Cham king, Jaya Indravarman III made peace with the Dai Viet, refused to join Suryavarman in a new campaign, which ended disastrously for him

In 1144 Suryavarman II invaded and deposed the Cham king, who he considered a treachery. He annexed Champa in the following year, and put his brother-in-law, Harideva, on the Cham throne at Vijaya. However in 1147, the Chams rallied around their new king, Jaya Harivarman I. When Suryavarman heard of the new Cham king, he sent Cambodia and Chams from Vijaya forces to conquer him. Jaya Haravarman I met them at chaklyang and annihilated the attacking forces. The next year, a larger army was sent against the Cham king; it was defeat at Kayev. With a series of military successes, Jaya Harivarman I marched northward seized Vijaya and totally destroyed the Cambodian and Cham forces at Mahisa. Harideva and his troops were all killed.

Suryavarman II died in 1150 in the midst of a new campaign against Champa. He received the posthumous name of Paramavishnuloka. As builder and religiou reformer, Suryavarman II rates among the greatest of Khmer kings. His foreign wars were not so successful.

Upon rising to power, Suryavarman II was a highly ambitious Khmer king. He was the great builder of the most impressive temple of Khmer, the Angkor Wat which is one of the World's Wonders with its magnificent architecture. Angkor Wat is a mountain temple dedicated to god Vishnu with five towers linked by galleries to signify the heavenly residence of Hindu gods. It is 65 meters high and the outer rectangular enclosure mesuring 1.5 km by 1.3 km which is surrounded by moat of 200 meters wide. In addition to its remarkable size, Angkor Wat also houses thousands of sculptures and stone carvings which amplify the delicacy of Khmer artworks. It took 37 years to complete the construction of this temple with over 50,000 workforce.

Apart from being a great royal builder, Suryavarman II was also a great warrior. He sacked several Champa states to the east and even waged an unsuccessful war with the strong Ly Dynasty of Vietnam. To the west, he conquered the Haripunjaya Kingdom, one of the Mon tribal states in central Thailand, and extended his power to as far north to the southern border of modern Laos and as far south to the border of Grahi Kingdom in Malay Peninsula which was around the present-day Nakorn Sithammarat, a southern province of modern Thailand. His territory expanded up to the border of the Pagan kingdom (ancient Burma) in the West.

Other monuments, in addition to Angkor wat, built during the reign of Suryavarman II are Beng Melea, Banteay Samre, Chey Say Tevoda, Thommanon.

• Jayavarman VII (1181 - 1219)

Jayavarman VII was born around 1120 or 1125, son of King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150 -1160) and queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married a very religious, strong-minded, and devote princess, Jayarajadevi, who exerted an important influence on him, both before he gained the throne and during the early years of his reign.

He was one of the most forceful and productive kings of the Khmer Empire of Angkor. He expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent and engaged in a building program that yielded numerous temple, highways, rest houses, and hospitals.

Though practically nothing is known of Jayavarman's childhood and youth, it is clear that during his late 30s and early 40s he settled in the neighboring kingdom of Champa, in what is now the central region of Vietnam.

When his father died, his brother or cousin - Yasovarman - appears to have claimed the throne, in which Jayavarman seems to renounce and to have gone on a voluntary exile to Champa. He left his wife and went to Champa alone.

In 1166 Tribhuvanadityavarman, a court official, usurped the throne of King Yasovarman. When Prince Jayavarman received word of a palace rebellion, he hastened to return to Cambodia - perhaps to support King Yasovarman II or to assert his own rights to the throne. But his was too late. When he arrived, Yasovarman was already dead and the usurper firmly seated on the throne. Jayavarman seemed unwilling to attempt to overthrow Tribhuvanadityavarman by force; instead he decided to remain in his homeland and to await an opportunity to assert his own claim to the throne.

Some 12 years later, when Jayavarman was in his late 50s, that opportunity came as a result of a Cham invasion in 1177, which brought about the demise of Tribhuvanadityavarman, the sacking of Angkor, and its subjection to foreign rule. In this situation Jayavarman organized a struggle for independence and in less than five years he succeeded in driving out the invaders and establishing his hegemony over all his Cambodian rivals.

Finally in 1181, at the age of 61, he was crowned a sole king of Khmer Empire and began a brilliant reign of more than 30 years, during which he brought the empire to its zenith, both in terms of territorial expansion and of royal architecture and construction.

Jayavarman VII was a warrior. The greatest military achievement of his reign - perhaps the greatest of the entire history of Cambodia - was the capture and sack of the capital of its rich and powerful neighbor, Champa, in 1190. His military activities also bringing southern Laos, portions of the Malay Peninsula and Burma under his control.

But increasingly he devoted his energies and organizational capacities to the kind of religious and religio-political construction projects that had been carried on by his royal predecessors. He built a large number of awesome new temples, including the Bayon, a distinctively Mahayana Buddhist central pyramid temple designed to serve as the primary locus of the royal cult and also as his own personal mausoleum; personal funerary temples of the Mahayana type, which were dedicated to his mother and father; and a series of provincial temples, which housed reduced replicas of the Royal Buddha. He rebuilt the city of Angkor Thom and rebuilt and extended the system of highways, which radiated outward from the Bayon and the royal palace and reached far into the provinces. In addition, he constructed 121 rest houses along these roads.

During his reign, the King built 102 hospitals, which he dispersed throughout his kingdom. Those hospitals were built in an attempt to improve conditions of the King's subject.

Jayavarman succeeded during his lifetime in creating a legacy that few monarchs in Khmer history have been able to equal. He was more than 90 years old when he died in around 1215.


"In 1190, King Sri Jaya Indravarman ong Vatuv made was against the King of Kambujadesa. The latter sent the Prince (Vidyanandana) at the head of the troops of the Kambuja to take Vijaya and defeat the king. He captured the king and had him conducted to Kambujadesa by the Kambuja troops. He proclaimed Suryajavarmadeva Prince In, brother-in-law of the king of Kambujadesa, as king of the city of Vijaya." Inscription referring to the capture of Cham city by King Jayavarman VII

Being a Khmer prince, Jayavarman VII was formerly a chieftain since the time of Yasovarman II and ruled over a Champa province or vishaya which was under the Angkor's authority. When the Chams seized the Angkor in 1177, Jayavarman VII determined to fight against the intruders and was able to re-capture the Angkor's capital Yasodharapura, where he ascended the throne in 1181. The war with the Champa kingdom did not terminate immediately but continued for another twenty years. In 1203, Jayavarman VII had a final victory and conquered the Champa kingdom.

Jayavarman VII was the last greatest king of the Angkor. Not only liberalizing and unifying the country, he was also a profound builder with the marvelous achievement in building the new capital of Angkor Thom, lying on the plain of Siemreap north of Angkor Wat. At the center of Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, famous for its distinct 50 towers, each bearing the large faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshavara (a lord Buddha) on the four sides. These faces are thought to be copied from the actual face of Jayavarman VII, and whose smiles are so gentle that it is often referred to as "the Khmer smile". This great king was a devout Buddhist of the Mahayana sect.

In addition to Angkor Thom and Bayon, Jayavarman VII also built other impressive temples and monuments such as Ta Phrom, Banteay Kdei, Neak Pean, and Sras Srang.

Moreover, Jayavarman VII constructed an extensive road network throughout his empire and thus linked all the major towns to Angkor. This efficient road system facilitated the transportation of agricultural products and goods. Along these roads, this great and benevolent king had also built 121 resting houses to accommodate the travelers and the officials, and 102 hospitals to accommodate the sick.

The reign of Jayavarman VII was marked as the peak period of the Angkor Empire as well as of the Khmer Civilization, which began to decline gradually after the death of this great king in 1219 .