Angkor Temples
The moat around Angkor Wat
We hired our taxi driver, David, to spend three days taking us to the temples and the surrounding area. He was 18 years old, he spoke good English, and he was well educated on Cambodia's history.
The temples were built by a succession of Khmer kings starting in about 680AD. Construction continued over approximately 500 years. Over 100 temples are situated in an area of about 400 square kilometers. The largest of these are made with huge sandstone blocks which came from a quarry about 30 kilometers north of the construction area. During periods of heavy construction, as many as 1500 elephants were used to transport the heavy stone blocks to the site.
| David started our tour with Angkor Thom, a large temple which in its completed form, around 1220AD, honored King Jayavaraman VII. As one ascends through about four levels, 54 towers depict the faces of the king, a sign of his omnipotence. |
Angkor Thom
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King Jayavaraman VII |
Faces
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Vegetation and trees infested all the ruins in recent centuries, but at the Ta Prohm Temple it was particularly severe. The giant fig and teak trees growing in this temple have been deliberately left untouched for effect. This temple was the setting for the recent movie, "Tomb Raider."
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Don under a giant fig.
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Vendor
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Stairs near Terrace of Elephants.
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Don Webster: websterdr@yahoo.com
