architecture of cambodia

7/25/2019 Architecture of Cambodia

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The 12th century temple of Angkor Wat

is the masterpiece of Angkorianarchitecture. Constructed under the

direction ofthe Khmerking

Suryavarman II it !as to serve as the

monarch"s personal mausoleumand as a

temple to the #indu god $ishnu. It!as

designed as a pyramid representing the

structure of the universe% the highest

level at the center of the temple

represented &ount &eru the home of

the #indu gods !ith the five to!ers on

the highest level representing the five

peaks of the mountain. The 'road moat

around the comple( represented the

oceans that surround the !orld.

Angkorian 'uilders used 'rick sandstone

laterite and !ood as their materials. The

ruins that remain are of 'rick sandstone

and laterite the !ood elements having 'een

lost to decay and other destructive

processes.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Gopurataprohm.JPG


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A cruciform gallery separatesthe courtyards at Angkor Wat.

Gallery

A gallery is a passageway runningalong the wall of an enclosure oralong the axis of a temple, often opento one or both sides. Historically, theform of the gallery evolved during the

10th century from the increasinglylong hallways which had earlier beenused to surround the centralsanctuary of a temple. uring theperiod of Angkor Wat in the !rst halfof the 1"th century, additional half

galleries on one side were introducedto buttress the structure of thetemple.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AngkorThom-SouthGate.jpg


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/AngkorThom-SouthGate.jpg


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Libraryangkorwat.JPG


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+any of the gopurasconstructed under

ayavarman -(( toward the

end of the 1"th century,such as this one at Angkor

#hom, are adorned withgigantic stone faces ofAvalokiteshvara.

Gopura

A gopura is an entrance building. At

Angkor, passage through theenclosure wallssurrounding a templecompound is fre%uently accomplishedby means of an impressivegopura,rather than &ust an aperture in thewall or a doorway. 'nclosures

surrounding a temple are oftenconstructed with a gopura at each ofthe four cardinal points. (n plan,gopuras are usually cross)shaped andelongated along the axis of theenclosure wall* if the wall is

constructed with an accompanyinggallery, the gallery is sometimesconnected to the arms of the gopura.+any Angkorian gopuras have atower at the centre of the cross.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Libraryangkorwat.JPG


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bakong.jpg


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A gopura leads into the 12thcentury temple compound at Ta

Prohm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meru


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Library

nusually, the libraries atAngkor Wat open to boththe 'ast and the West.

/tructures conventionally known aslibraries are a common feature ofhmer temple architecture, but theirtrue purpose remains unknown. +ostlikely they functioned broadly asreligious shrines rather than strictlyas repositories of manuscripts.2reestanding buildings, they werenormally placed in pairs on eitherside of the entrance to an enclosure,opening to the west
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Bakong.jpg


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Indraforestped01.JPG


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Srah and baray/rahs and barays were reservoirs,generally created by excavation andembankment respectively. (t is not

clear whether the signi!cance ofthese reservoirs was religious,agricultural, or a combination of thetwo.

#he two largest reservoirs at Angkorwere the West 3aray and the 'ast3aray, located on either side ofAngkor #hom. #he 'ast 3aray is now

dry. #he West +ebon is an 11thcentury temple standing at the centerof the West 3aray* the 'ast +ebon a10th century temple standing at thecenter of the 'ast 3aray


14/44West Baray ese!oir


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3uilt around the year 400 A. andfed by the /iem 5eapriver this nowdried up resevoir measuringapproximately 6.1km long by 1.6kmwide and holding close to 70 millioncubic meters of water was aincredible feat of engineering givenits age of construction. 'ven more

intriguing is perhaps the actualoriginal purpose of it, although sometheories conclude that its mainfunction was for irrigation, noinscription have been foundmentioning that it served such a role.

(n the centre of this once vastexpanse of water can be found the

"ast Baray eser!oir


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#he 3akong is the earliestsurviving #emple +ountain atAngkor.

#he dominant scheme for the

construction of state temples in theAngkorian period was that of the

#emple +ountain, an architecturalrepresentation of +ount+eru, thehome of the gods in Hindu mythology.8#he style was in9uenced by (ndian

temple architecture. 'nclosuresrepresented the mountain chainssurrounding +ount +eru, while amoat represented the ocean. #hetemple itself took shape as a pyramidof several levels, and the home of the

gods was represented by the elevatedsanctuary at the center of the temple.

#he !rst great #emple +ountain wasthe 3akong, a !ve)level pyramiddedicated in ::1 A.. by ing(ndravarman (.;ther hmer #emple+ountains include 3aphuon, $re 5up,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Colonettesbanteaysrei.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Angkor_Wat,_wall_details.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Colonettesbanteaysrei.JPG


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Corbelangkorthomsouth.JPG


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"lements

Bas#relie$3as)reliefs are individual !gures, groups of !gures, or entire scenes cutinto stone walls, not as drawings but as sculptedimages pro&ectingfrom a background. /culpture in bas)relief is distinguished fromsculpture in haut)relief, in that the latter pro&ects farther fromthebackground, in some cases almostdetaching itself from it. #he

Angkorian hmer preferred to work in bas)relief, while their neighborsthe ,000 s%uare meters of such scenes, some of

them historical, some mythological. /imilarly, the outer gallery at the3ayon contains extensive bas)reliefs documenting the everyday life of
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Ta-Prom_Int%C3%A9rieurGalerie.jpg


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A bas#relie$ in a tympanum at Banteay

Srei sho%s &ndra releasing the rains in anattempt to e'tinguish the (re created by
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Ta-Prom_Int%C3%A9rieurGalerie.jpg


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#he 3attle of urukshetra is the

sub&ect of this bas)relief at AngkorWat.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Pedlintelsrei.JPG


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#his scene from the outer gallery atthe 3ayon shows


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Blind door and%indo%Angkorean shrinesfre%uently opened in

only one direction,typically to the 'ast.

#he other threesides featured fakeor blind doors tomaintain symmetry.

3lind windows wereoften used alongotherwise blankwalls

#his blind door at 3anteay/rei is 9anked bycolonettes. Above the dooris a lintel, above which is atympanum with a scenefrom the +ahabharata.

)olonettes


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Lintel* pediment* and tympanumA lintel is a hori@ontal beam connecting twovertical columns between which runs a door or

passageway. 3ecause the Angkorean hmerlacked the ability to construct a true arch, theyconstructed their passageways using lintels orcorbelling. A pediment is a roughly triangular

structure above a lintel. A tympanum is thedecorated surface of a pediment.

#he styles employed by Angkorean artists in thedecoration of lintels evolved over time, as aresult, the study of lintels has proven a usefulguide to the dating of temples. /ome scholarshave endeavored to develop a periodi@ation oflintel styles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata


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intel and pediment at 3anteay /rei*

the motif on the pediment is /hiva=atara a.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata


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Ang+orean stairs are notoriously steep.

,re-uently* the length o$ the risere'ceeds that o$ the tread* producing anangle o$ ascent some%here bet%een /and 0 degrees. The reasons $or this

peculiarity appear to be both religiousand monumental. ,rom the religiousperspecti!e* a steep stair%ay can beinterpreted as a stair%ay to hea!en*the realm o$ the gods. ,rom the

monumental point o$ !ie%* according toAng+or#scholar 3aurice Glai4e* thead!antage is clear # the s-uare o$ thebase not ha!ing to spread in sur$ace

area* the entire building rises to its


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Stairs

#he stairs leading to the inner

enclosure at Angkor Wat aredaunting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_people


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3oti$s

Apsara and de!ata

Apsaras, divine nymphs or celestialdancing girls, are characters from (ndianmythology. #heir origin is explained in thestory of the churning of the ;cean of +ilk,or samudra manthan, found in the greatepic +ahabharata. ;ther stories in the+ahabharata detail the exploits ofindividual apsaras, who were often usedby the gods as agents to persuade orseduce mythological demons, heroes andascetics. #he widespread use of apsaras as

a motif for decorating the walls and pillarsof temples and other religious buildings,however, was a hmerinnovation. (nmodern descriptions of Angkorian temples,the term apsara is sometimes used torefer not only to dancers but also to otherminor female deities, though minor female

deities who are depicted standing aboutrather than dancin are more commonl

Apsaras and devatas areubi%uitous at Angkor, butare most common in thefoundations of the 1"th

century. epictions of trueBdancingC apsaras are found,for example, in theHall of ancersat$reah han, in the pillarsthat line the passagewaysthrough the outer gallery of

the 3ayon, and in thefamous bas)relief ofAngkor Watdepicting thechurning of the ;cean of+ilk. #he largest populationof devatas Baround ",000C is

at Angkor Wat, where theyappear individually and in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devatashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Cambodiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Apsaras_Bayon_Kambodscha200.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Apsarasdevatakdei01.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvarapalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Kohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loleihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Sreihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Sreihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loleihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Kohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvarapalahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Apsarasdevatakdei01.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Apsaras_Bayon_Kambodscha200.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Cambodiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devatashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Kdeihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khan


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#hree apsarasappear on this pillar

at the 1"th century 3uddhisttem le the 3a on.

ApsarasBleftC and a de!ataBrightC

grace the walls at 3anteay dei.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Kdeihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khan


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5!arapala

varapalasare human ordemonic templeguardians, generallyarmed with lances andclubs. #hey are presentedeither as a stone statuesor as relief carvings in thewalls of temples andother buildings, generallyclose to entrances or

passageways. #heirfunction is to protect thetemples. varapalas maybe seen, for example, at$reah o, olei,3anteay /rei, $reah han

and 3anteay dei. #his d!arapalastands guard at3anteay dei.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Banteaykdeidravapala01.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Linteau_Mus%C3%A9e_Guimet_25972.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garudahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%81gahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%81gahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garudahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Linteau_Mus%C3%A9e_Guimet_25972.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Banteaykdeidravapala01.jpg


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Darudais adivinebeing thatis part manand partbird. He isthe lord ofbirds, themythologial enemy ofnEgas, and

the battlesteed of-ishnu.epictionsof Darudaat Angkornumber in

thethousands,and though(ndian ininspirationexhibit a

style that isuni%uely

(n this 4th century lintel now on

display at the +usFe Duimet, Garudabears -ishnu on his shoulders.

Garuda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_(architecture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_(architecture)


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GARUDA are classified as:

As part of a narrative bas relief, Garuda is shown as the battle steed of Vishnuor

Krishna, bearing the god on his shoulders, and simultaneously fighting against

the gods enemies! "umerous such images of Garuda may be observed in the

outer gallery of Ang#or $at!

Garuda serves as an atlassupporting a superstructure, as in the bas relief at

Ang#or $at that depicts heaven and hell! Garudas and styli%ed mythological

lions are the most common atlas figures at Ang#or!

Garuda is depicted in the pose of a victor, often dominating a n&ga, as in the

gigantic relief sculptures on the outer wall of 'reah Khan! (n this conte)t, Garuda

symbli%es the military power of the Khmer #ings and their victories over their

enemies! "ot coincidentally, the city of 'reah Khan was built on the site of King

*ayavarman V((s victory over invaders from +hampa!

(n freestanding n&ga sculptures, such as in n&ga bridges and balustrades, Garuda

is often depicted in relief against the fan of n&ga heads! -he relationship between

Garuda and the n&ga heads is ambiguous in these sculptures: it may be one of

cooperation, or it may again be one of domination of the n&ga by Garuda!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Banteay_Srei_Kala.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Banteay_Srei_Kala.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champa


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6ala#he kala is a ferociousmonster symbolic of timein its all)devouring aspectand associated with thedestructive side of the god/iva.

(n hmer templearchitecture, the kala

serves as a commondecorative element onlintels, tympana and walls,where it is depicted as amonstrous head with alarge upper &aw lined by

large carnivorous teeth,but with no lower &aw./ome kalas are showndisgorging vine)like plants,and some serve as thebase for other !gures

A +alaserves as the base for a deityat the 10th century Hindu temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lintel_corner_with_makara_rider_1.jpg


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Linga

#he lingais a phallic post or cylindersymbolic of the god /hivaand ofcreative power.8>GAs a religioussymbol, the function of the linga isprimarily that of worship and ritual,and only secondarily that of

decoration. (n the hmer empire,certain lingas were erected assymbols of the king himself, and werehoused in royal temples in order toexpress the kingIs consubstantialitywith /iva.8>6#he lingas that survive

from the Angkorean period aregenerally made of polished stone.#he lingas of the Angkorian period are ofseveral diJerent types.7/ome lingas are implanted in 9at s%uare basecalled a yoni, symbolic of the womb.7;n the surface of some lingas is engraved the faceof /iva. /uch lingas are called mukhalingas./ome lingas are segmented into three partsK as%uare base symbolic of 3rahma, an octagonalmiddle section symbolic of -ishnu, and a round tip

symbolic of /hiva

#his segmented lingafrom 10th

century Angkor has a s%uare base, anoctogonal middle, and a round tip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Linga_Mus%C3%A9e_Guimet_2597.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lintel_corner_with_makara_rider_1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makara_(Hindu_mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hariharalayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Kohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakonghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loleihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Sreihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lintel_corner_with_makara_rider_1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Sreihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loleihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakonghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Kohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hariharalayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makara_(Hindu_mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lintel_corner_with_makara_rider_1.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Linga_Mus%C3%A9e_Guimet_2597.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva


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MakaraA makara is a mythical sea monster with the body of a serpent, the trunk of an elephant, and a head that can have features

reminiscent of a lion, a crocodile, or a dragon. In Khmer temple architecture, the motif of the makara is generally part of a decorative

carving on a lintel, tympanum, or wall. Often the makara is depicted with some other creature, such as a lion or serpent, emerging

from its gaping maw. The makara is a central motif in the design of the famously beautiful lintels of the Roluos group of temples

!reah Ko, "akong, and #olei. At "anteay $rei, carvings of makaras disgorging other monsters may be observed on many of the

corners of the buildings.

The corner of a lintel on

one of the brick towers at"akong shows a man

riding on the back of a

makarathat in turn

disgorges another

monster.


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89ga

3ythical serpents* or n9gas* represent an important moti$ in

6hmer architecture as %ell as in $ree#standing sculpture. Theyare $re-uently depicted as ha!ing multiple heads* al%aysune!en in number* arranged in a $an. "ach head has a :aredhood* in the manner o$ a cobra.89gas are $re-uently depicted in Ang+orian lintels. Thecomposition o$ such lintels characteristically consists in a

dominant image at the center o$ a rectangle* $rom %hich issues%irling elements that reach to the $ar ends o$ the rectangle.These s%irling elements may ta+e shape as either !ineli+e!egetation or as the bodies o$ n9gas. Some such n9gas aredepicted %earing cro%ns* and others are depicted ser!ing asmounts $or human riders.

To the Ang+orian 6hmer* n9gas %ere symbols o$ %ater and(gured in the myths o$ origin $or the 6hmer people* %ho %eresaid to be descended $rom the union o$ an &ndian Brahman and aserpent princess $rom )ambodia.89gas %ere also characters inother %ell#+no%n legends and stories depicted in 6hmer art*such as the churning o$ the ;cean o$ 3il+* the legend o$ the

Leper 6ing as depicted in the bas#relie$s o$ the Bayon* and the


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+ucalinda, the n9gaking who shielded3uddha as he sat in meditation, was afavorite motif for


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89ga Bridge

=Ega bridges are causeways or true bridgeslined by stone balustrades shaped as nEgas.(n some Angkorian nEga)bridges, as forexample those located at the entrances to1"th century city of Angkor #hom, the nEga)

shaped balustrades are supported not bysimple posts but by stone statues of giganticwarriors. #hese giants are the devas andasuras who used the nEga king -asuki in

order to the churn the ;cean of +ilk in %uestof the amrita or elixir of immortality. #he storyof the


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/tone Asuras hold the n9ga-asuki on a

bridge leading into the 1"th century city ofAn kor #hom.


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A lingain the form of a -uincun',set inside a iyon, is carved into theriverbed at bal /pean.


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httpKLLmyangkorguide.comLcitadels)and)templesL

httpKLLen.wikipedia.orgLwikiLArchitectureMofM


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