A temple dating back to the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is located in what is now the country of Cambodia. It is the world's largest religious structure. The name Angkor Wat translates in English to “city of temple.”

Physical features

The structure of Angkor Wat is about 5,100 feet (1,554 meters) long and 4,498 feet (1,371 meters) wide. It is approached from the west by a raised road lined with massive carved railings. Surrounded by a wall and a moat, Angkor Wat rises from a central point in three enclosures. Of its original nine towers, five still stand at the summit. Many of the abundant carvings were originally painted and covered in gold.

The central theme

The temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The subject matter of the carvings is taken mainly from the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. There are also many scenes representing the glory of the king who ordered the temple built. Sculptures portray him as Vishnu. He is shown reviewing his troops, holding audiences, and performing other functions of a king.

An interesting group of carved figures are the apsaras, or heavenly dancers, who are depicted with elaborate clothing, jewelry, and high, jeweled crowns. Hundreds of statues of these apsaras decorate the temple. Many of the carvings and statues of Hindu deities, or gods, were later replaced by Buddhist art.

History

Angkor Wat is the most famous of all the temples in what was the ancient city of Angkor. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II, it was meant to be a vast temple within which the king would later be buried. Suryavarman II reigned from about 1113 to 1150. Angkor Wat was begun in the early years of Suryavarman's reign, but was not finished until after his death.

In 1177 invaders plundered Angkor. After this event King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1215, decided that the Hindu gods had failed him. When he built a new capital nearby, he shifted the religious focus to Buddhism. Thereafter Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine.

By the 16th century, the city of Angkor had long been abandoned. All that remained of the site were jungle-covered ruins of ancient temples and the complex system of reservoirs beneath them. However, Angkor Wat itself was taken over and kept largely intact by Buddhist monks. It became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Southeast Asia. In the 20th century part of the complex was damaged during a civil war in Cambodia. Many of the temples also were damaged by plant roots. Some were eroded, or worn away, by water and other elements.

In 1992 the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the entire Angkor area a World Heritage site. It also was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, and conservation efforts to preserve the site were begun.