History of Angkor Wat

In the 10th Century were built under Yasovarman I (reigned 889 - ca 910) numerous irrigation and dams, which contributed to that among other things several times a year rice could be harvested. This successful agriculture led to food surpluses, and the Khmer Empire brought great wealth. So it happened that the land in the south of China as a regional power center in the Khmer and Southeast Asia has been able to build large cities and huge temples to.

In 1113 King Suryavarman II ascended the throne and ruled until about 1150th He built the power of Angkor, and then Kambuja called in several military campaigns against the neighboring Cham, against Dai Viet (see History of Vietnam) and from the Mon Kingdom Haripunjaya further. In addition, he restored temples at Angkor and builds new ones.

Although the worship of Siva, the predominant religion of the ruling class of the country itself was, however, was Suryavarman II, it can be inferred from the inscriptions on its construction and pilgrimages, a follower of Vaishnavism. In the temple of Wat Phu pilgrimage he made about next to a Shiva lingam and a statue of the Bhagavati (an incarnation of Uma or Parvati, the consort of Shiva) built a statue of Vishnu.
Apsaras
Vishnu was also the main temple of Angkor Wat, the king ordered the construction in the southeastern part of the set up I already paid under Suryavarman capital. The original name was therefore probably bisnulok or Vishnuloka when Angkor Wat was only centuries later, the name of the temple complex, when he was converted to a Buddhist shrine.

About the actual purpose of the work to this day no clear clarity. The rulers of the Khmer saw themselves as stewards of God under whose protection they were also themselves and the country. Each of them had at least build a great temple was dedicated to this deity. Unusually for the temples of Angkor is the orientation of the Angkor Wat. Unlike the other temples, whose main access point or output points to the east, is the Angkor Wat faces west, the direction Yama, the god of death. Some researchers suggest the temple, therefore, to be the tomb of the king. A grave chamber or indications have not yet been found.

Surrounding the temple complex
Total investment of Angkor

Angkor Wat is only one part of the much larger total investment of Angkor with its multitude of temples of Angkor Thom, which is the largest (see also): Temples of Angkor. Like other great temples at Angkor areas was that Angkor Wat is surrounded by settlements. The building material of stone, however, was reserved for religious buildings, which is why the secular buildings, including the residences of the rulers, are not received.

Dating
Usually the construction of Angkor Wat, as described above, attributed to King Suryavarman II. Some scholars date the construction period and in later times, tend to exhibit stylistic and religious-studies. In 1927 Philippe Stern argued that the style of the Bayon temple, a refinement of the style (late 12th century represented by the middle of 13th century) and he would later be developed accordingly.

History since 1500
Monks at Angkor Wat

The vast buildings have a number of damages. Weather conditions, the tropical vegetation and human destructiveness, such as the looting by the Siamese in the 15th Century, have added to the temples. Another reason for the decline is that the Khmer from 13 Century turned to Buddhism, which is why no new temples were built over. Added to this was that the Khmer cut down all the forests and crop failures by the then-failing water and climate change. The plant, however, was the latest since the 16th Century as a Buddhist shrine, were attached to the 1546 to 1747 more than 40 inscriptions that convey the content of Theravada Buddhism.

After it, due to the political situation in Cambodia, in the second half of the 20th Century was hardly possible to carry out restoration works, different organizations are now engaged to stop the further disintegration of Angkor Wat.

Besides the tourists, Buddhist monks are among the daily visitors to the temple.