Where is the historical temple of Angkor. Who built the huge temple complex of Angkor Wat? Sunrise and sunset at Angkor

A detailed historical excursion that will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!

The religious building of Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple in the world. It is considered one of the most magnificent "pearls" of Angkor - the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.

Angkor Wat: history

More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesh) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.

The empire reaches its heyday a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was erected in honor of him. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, the masters were searched all over Asia.

Sandstone was used as the main material, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. When laying no solution was used.

In those distant times, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.

The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated, at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. Water was sorely lacking, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) there were several uprisings, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.

Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into disrepair. People have left the city forever. Only the monks remained in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the buildings became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.

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At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon the mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. Ancient Angkor owes its second birth (the end of the 19th century) to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of researchers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and merchants rushed to Angkor.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the former splendor of the capital. The sandstone from which the buildings were built was destroyed over time by the influence of wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned down by vandals during periods of hostilities. Roots and branches of trees sprouted through the walls of buildings in many places.

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings of the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After the end of the civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been under the protection of UNESCO.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

The device and architecture of Angkor Wat

The temple is located in the center ancient city. Angkor Wat is 1.3 km long from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building of rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. In appearance, it is somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent the three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected from all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with the land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front side of the structure are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the east side of Angkor Wat, but it is less visible and can be found using the services of a guide.

The entire territory of the temple has to be walked around, transport is prohibited here.

Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any side, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are interconnected by stairs, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The interior space thus formed is divided into numerous, square-shaped courtyards.

The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. Ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of outlandish animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.

The first tier is the largest, consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “plots” are the battles of the gods, the period of the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The outer wall is made in the form of a double row of columns.

There are corner pavilions at the end of each gallery. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. Once these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn out and are barely noticeable.

The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier with the help of passages. Between them are four courtyards, which fill with water during the rainy season and serve as pools. The inner walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns through which courtyards-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between the windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.

At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions on unknown language. Libraries are located on both sides on the second tier, each of which has four entrances.

It is a constitutional monarchy with the head of the king. The legislative body is the Parliament, which consists of two chambers. Its capital is Phnom Penh, and its main attraction is Angkor Wat (Cambodia). The photo below shows it at sunset.

A little about the country and its people

A small state is lost in the green jungle. It arose in the 600s AD. Nature is still virginally beautiful and surprises the traveler with amazing plants of the wet savannah and unusual animals. In the center is A on three sides it is surrounded by mountains. And the fourth opens with a view of the Gulf of Thailand. The main artery of the country, and Tonle Sap, flow along the valley. This amazing stream periodically changes its direction. A river can flow into or out of a lake. The country's population is the Khmer people (approximately 14 million), who are 95% Buddhist. For them there are more than 4 thousand temples. The language that is used in everyday life is Khmer, the elderly speak French, the young learn English and Chinese. The climate is humid and hot. Best months to visit - from the end of October to April, when there is a dry winter with temperatures from + 22 ° C to + 26 ° C. But humidity stays at 93% all year round.

Landmarks of the country

The tourism business in the country is still poorly developed. The city of Siem Reap is known for its pagodas, temples and wats: wat Bo (wall paintings), Preah Angcherk and Preah Angchorm pagoda (very revered by the locals. There are two Buddha statues here), Yatep - local spirits live here that protect the city. The city of Sihanoukville is distinguished by beautiful beaches and diving centers. But still, the main thing that Cambodia is proud of is the Angkor temple complex. Everything fades before it, like the stars and the moon before the light of the sun. It is located near the city of Siemrap. In all its grandeur, the sights of Angkor are located in the center of the state of Cambodia.

In addition, this historical reserve has a temple-mountain Bayon. It is also visited and very interesting temple. It offers a magnificent view of Angkor from above. The jungle dominates Ta Prohm and is not going to leave it yet. There are more modest, but no less remarkable temples: Baksey Chhamkorg, Thama Bai Kaek and Prasat Bay.

World heritage under the supervision of UNESCO

Giant, largest - it's all about Angkor. Cambodia a thousand years ago very quickly, in just 30-40 years, erected and also decorated a temple for Hindus, worshipers of the god Vishnu. This was done at the behest of King Suryavarman II. He was a warrior who spent his time not in fun, but in caring for the strengthening and centralization of the state. But he remained in history as the creator of the Angkor temple. Cambodia has attracted all its forces for its design and construction.

Design

By the time Angkor was created, Indian culture had existed for at least 4-4.5 millennia. The knowledge of Indian astronomers was extremely high. It can be assumed that they were involved in the creation of the layout of Angkor. Cambodia would hardly have been able to do this on its own. Moreover, the temple was dedicated to the deity Vishnu - the guardian of the universe, the protector from evil, the link between people and the universe.

At the end of the 20th century, the British historian D. Grisby concluded that the main structures in Angkor were a projection onto the ground. He was prompted to look for such a relationship by an inscription on an excavated stele of the 12th century, which reported that their country was similar to the sky. Such a connection is indicated by another inscription of an earlier time, which says that the stones of Angkor are associated with the movement of the stars in the sky. This has given rise to numerous modern research and discussions in the world of historians and archaeologists. They don't stop today.

Construction

At that time, there was a lot of sandstone in the kingdom of Cambodia. The temple complex of Angkor was built from it. The construction took about five million tons of material. It was rafted down the Siemrap River. All stones are very smooth, as if they were polished. No mortar was used to fasten them, and they are held only by their own weight. They match one another so perfectly that the blade of a thin knife cannot pass between them. It is believed that elephants were used in the construction. Absolutely all surfaces are covered with kilometers of carving. These are scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, unicorns and dragons, warriors, griffins, charming dedavasis (dancers). From all of the above, it follows that there were very skilled craftsmen who built Angkor. Cambodia, by all assumptions, had centuries of experience in such construction.

Architecture

This was a period of maturity in the development of sophisticated architecture with complete harmony of all its parts. As in many ancient civilizations, the sanctuary was the home of the gods. Only the priestly class and kings gathered in it, and it was also intended for the burial of rulers. Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia, is a rectangle with dimensions of 1.5 x 1.3 thousand meters and an area of ​​two km². The area of ​​the Vatican is almost three times smaller. Along the entire perimeter there is a moat filled with water, 190 m wide. A platform is installed in the center of the courtyard, which is enclosed by a wall. A temple was built on it. Nowhere has a capsule been found that bears its original name or date of commencement of construction. The temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia) consists of three buildings with a common center. It has five lotus-shaped towers. The tallest central tower rises 65 m from the ground. The main entrance to it leads from the west. The road to it, made of sandstone blocks, is surrounded by low parapets, on which there are sculptures of snakes with seven heads.

Today, the entrance to the gopuram (the gate tower above the entrance) is through a sacred place under south tower. It has a huge figure of Vishnu with 8 arms. It fills all space.

The sculptural decoration is organically connected with the whole composition of the temple. On the first tier, the most remarkable are eight huge images, the area of ​​​​which is 1.2 thousand square meters. m. The walls of the 2nd tier are decorated with bas-reliefs of apsaras (celestial maidens). There are two thousand of them. From the second level you can see the entire courtyard. Stone steps lead to the third level, to huge conical towers. The highest is the center of the universe. All the towers represent, as the ancient Khmers understood it, the abode of the gods. In the highest one, the recumbent figure of Buddha is still preserved, although the temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu.

historical reserve

The temples of Angkor in Cambodia are not limited to the colossal and mysterious Angor Wat. The city of Angkor itself was a "Capital City" with a population of over 1,000,000 people who lived in wooden houses that rotted in the high humidity. Its ruins are located about five kilometers from the Angkor Wat complex. Temples built of sandstone and tuff have been preserved there: elephant terrace, Ta-Prokhm, Angor-Thom (included in the UNESCO heritage list), Preah-Kan (translated as “sacred sword”), Ta-Prum and Bayon Temple. It has 54 towers pointing to the sky, and all of them are decorated with images of the Buddha.

Angor Thom ("Great Capital") and Bayon Temple

It was the capital under the ruler Jayavarman VII. He adopted the philosophy of Buddha and built a square city in honor of him with a fantastic area of ​​900 hectares. It is divided by roads into 4 equal parts. Remains stone buildings overgrown with jungle. In the center stands the Bayon Temple.

Its size is smaller than other sights of Cambodia, but if you get closer to it, it strikes with grandeur. Bayon has three levels. The first one depicts scenes from peaceful life and battles. On the second, which is much better preserved, the tourist finds himself in a labyrinth of galleries with low ceilings. Faces are carved on each of the fifty towers, which, depending on the lighting, can look either good or evil. These ruins look majestic, especially when viewed from the third level.

Ta-Prohm

This is a temple-monastery, which was called Rajahavira (“royal monastery”) with a complex layout. Its territory is heavily overgrown with trees with powerful trunks and branches. Its clearing began in 1920. But the jungle does not want to part with him. This Buddhist temple is very romantic, as some of the ruins and tropical trees are deliberately left in it. It makes an indelible impression on tourists. On the territory of the monastery, large silk trees and strangler trees grow among the ring structures.

If the seed remains in the gap of the masonry, then it gradually grows and breaks the wall with its roots and heavy trunk. Initially, they become the frame of the building, but when they die, they destroy it. The temple itself consists of three galleries with one center. It is surrounded by a moat. Entrances through gopuras (entrance towers) are located on the four cardinal points. The stele in the monastery describes its wealth (tons of gold dishes, silk beds), and also attributes to the king the creation of hundreds of statues of gods, decorative towers, almost half a thousand stone dwellings, as well as the presence of hospitals in the kingdom. All remaining walls are, of course, covered with exquisite carvings. The place where the episode of the film "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" with Angelina Jolie was filmed is very popular with tourists. On one of the pillars, red paint has been preserved. As the guides say, human blood was added to it. In fact, iron oxides were added to it, which are very resistant to fading. The stegosaurus that is carved on one of the medallions is something inexplicable in Ta Prohma.

How to Get to Angkor, Cambodia

By air

There are no direct flights from Russia to Cambodia. Near the city of Siem Reap there is international Airport. Liners arrive in it through China (eastern and southern airlines), Korea (Seoul), Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand (Bangkok, Pattaya). The most expensive, but also the most popular flight is Bangkok-Siem Reap. It's easier to fly to Bangkok and then fly via Kuala Lumpur or Phnom Penh. From the capital of Cambodia, you can then go by taxi or by bus. The airport is 7 km from Siem Reap, and the hotel can be reached without complications. And if a room is booked, then the tourist will be met for free and taken to the hotel.

Waterway

Siem Reap can be reached by speedboat from Phnom Penh if time and money permit. Tickets are sold at the hotel reception or in travel agencies. Traveling along the lake and the river in six hours will allow you to get acquainted with the life of the local population.

Bus

From neighboring Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam), as well as from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, you can take a bus. There are a lot of flights on offer. The cheapest are Cambodian. The bus during the day is quite safe transport. Night trips are not recommended.

Tours «Angkor Cambodia»

Tour operators offer a trip to exotic Cambodia. For example, Moscow companies Level.travel, VAND, Coral Travel, as well as TEZ-tour. Tours are designed for three days and two nights.

Huge angkor wat temple complex is the main symbol Cambodia and even depicted on the flag of this country. The people of Cambodia are proud that their ancestors Khmer were able to build such a wonder of the world, not inferior in splendor to other famous architectural monuments. European researchers, while studying the temple, often asked themselves the question: did the Khmers appropriate other people's merits?

In 1858, the French naturalist Henri Muo went to Indochina to collect scientific information about Cambodia, Laos, and Siam. Arriving in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, he decided to explore its surroundings. Henri was in the depths of the jungle and after a few hours he realized that he was lost.

After several days of wandering in the jungle, Muo saw three stone towers in the rays of the setting sun, resembling beautiful lotus buds. Coming closer, Henri saw a ditch with water, and behind it a huge stone fence in skillful carvings depicting gods, people and animals. Behind him towered buildings of extraordinary size and beauty.

Lost Traveler

“The monuments of building art that I have seen are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are an example of the highest level in comparison with any monuments that have survived from ancient times,” Muo ​​wrote in the book “Journey to the Kingdoms of Siam, Cambodia, Laos and other areas of the central Indochina". - I have never felt so happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never trade this life for the pleasures and comforts of the civilized world.”

Deciding what is in front of him ancient castle or a temple, the Frenchman began to shout, calling for help. It turned out that Buddhist monks lived in a majestic building. They saved Muo, who was already dying of malaria and starvation.

When Henri felt better, the monks told him that he was in the greatest temple of Cambodia, which is called Angkor Wat. The Europeans knew nothing about him. Although back in 1550 the temple was visited by the Portuguese Diogo do Couto, who published notes about his journey.

In 1586, another Portuguese, Capuchin monk Antonio da Madalena visited Angkor Wat and left written evidence of this: “This is such an unusual building that it is impossible to describe it with a pen, especially since it does not look like any other building in the world. It has towers and ornaments and every subtlety that human genius can imagine."

And in 1601, the Spanish missionary Marcelo Ribandeiro, just like Muo, having got lost in the jungle, came across this majestic temple. Europeans visited Angkor Wat in the 19th century. The same Henri Muo writes that five years before him, the French missionary Charles-Emile Buyevo, who published a report on this journey, had visited there in 1857. But the descriptions of Buyevo and his predecessors did not catch the attention of the public. So it was the book of Henri Muo, published in 1868, that glorified Angkor Wat.

Center of the Universe

The Angkor Wat temple is a complex of buildings located on a rectangular plot of 200 hectares. Behind the stone wall, as archaeologists suggest, there was not only a temple, but also Royal Palace and other buildings. But since these buildings were built of wood, they did not survive.

The temple itself symbolizes the sacred Mount Meru - "the center of the universe and the abode of the gods" in Hindu mythology. The most beautiful five-tower temple looks in the rainy season, when the 190-meter moat is filled with water. Then Angkor Wat looks like the center of the Universe, surrounded by the waters of the oceans. This is exactly how the creators intended it.

The three-stage temple itself with pointed towers is a triumph of symmetry. Once in it, a person immediately sees the entire structure, which rises on three terraces standing on top of each other. It seems as if the temple grows before the eyes of an approaching person. This effect was possible due to the location of the terraces. The first terrace rises 3.5 meters above the ground, the second - 7 meters, and the third - 13 meters. Moreover, each is surrounded by galleries covered with gable roofs.

From whichever side the visitor approaches Angkor Wat, he always sees only three towers. The height of the central one is 65 meters. Given that all this splendor is covered with hundreds of sculptures and reliefs with images from the ancient Indian epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata, one can only admire this creation of human hands.

The largest city

Once the temple of Angkor Wat was located in the heart of the Khmer empire - the city of Angkor. At the same time, Angkor is not a historical name. It spread later, when these places were abandoned by the Khmer rulers, and then fell into decay. The Khmers began to call this place simply "city" - in Sanskrit "nagara", later transformed into "Angkor".

At the very beginning of the 9th century, the Khmer emperor Jaya Varman II began the construction of the first religious building in these places. For 400 years, Angkor has grown into a giant city, consisting of more than 200 temples. The main one was Angkor Wat. Historians attribute its construction to Emperor Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1113-1150.

The ruler was considered the earthly incarnation of Vishnu, and the Khmers worshiped him as a living deity. And the temple, being a symbol of the heavenly palace, served as a refuge for the spirit of the ruler and his future tomb.

Angkor Wat was built over 40 years. The temple, which is larger than the entire Vatican, was erected by tens of thousands of workers and masons. Construction was completed after the death of Suryavarman, but the tomb was ready at the time of his death.

In 2007, an international expedition explored Angkor using satellite photos and other modern technologies. As a result, it was concluded that Angkor is the largest city of the pre-industrial era. The dimensions of Angkor from west to east are 24 kilometers, and from north to south - 8 kilometers.

At the peak of its development, a million people lived here - an unthinkable figure for those years. To provide such a mass of people with food, the Khmers built a complex hydraulic system that can feed both agricultural land and serve as a source of water. In addition, this system protected Angkor from flooding during the rainy season.

In 1431, Siamese troops captured Angkor and ravaged it. Having lost the status of the capital and the opportunity to develop, the city began to fade, and people left it. A hundred years later, the jungle turned Angkor into an abandoned place. However, both Angkor and Angkor Wat have never been completely deserted.

Legends and fantasies

Where did the assumptions come from that Angkor Wat is much older than its official age? There are several reasons for this. If you look at a satellite photo of Angkor, you can see that the structure of the temple complex reproduces the position of the stars of the constellation Draco at dawn on the day of the spring equinox in 10,500 BC.

The Khmers have a beautiful legend about this. One day, a child was born to the royal couple, who was the son of the supreme deity Indra. When the boy was 12 years old, Indra descended and took him to his place, to Mount Meru. Despite the deity's love for the prince, the heavenly maidens began to grumble that a person is subject to temptations and must be returned back.

For the sake of maintaining peace in the heavenly abode, Indra decided to send the boy to earth. In order for the prince to remember Meru, Indra wanted to give him a copy of his palace. But the modest boy said that he would be happy to live in Indra's barn too. Then the deity sent a talented architect to the prince, who built the magnificent Angkor Wat, which was a copy of the deity's cowshed.

A different hypothesis was put forward by the Spanish missionary Marcelo Ribandeiro, who saw Angkor Wat in 1601. Knowing that traditions did not allow the Khmers to build stone buildings, he approached this logically: "The world learned all the best from the Hellenes and Romans."

As he wrote in his book: “There are ruins of an ancient city in Cambodia, which, according to some, was built by the Romans or Alexander the Great. It is noteworthy that none of the natives can live in these ruins, and they serve as a refuge for wild animals. These pagans believe, by tradition, that the city must be rebuilt by a foreign people."

Lev Cullin

Angkor Wat has been added to the List of Wonders of the World

Angkor Wat is unparalleled in beauty and state of preservation. Its grandeur and magnificence surpass those of the Pharaohs, its impression is stronger than that of the Pyramids, and its artistic expressiveness can only be compared with the Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat is located 6 km (4 miles) north of Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat can only be entered and exited through the western gate.

"You can find many photos and videos about Angkor Wat, but perhaps the best of all virtual is the panorama of Angkor Wat, made by airpano.ru"

angkor wat was built in the first half of the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. The construction of the temple lasted about 30 years.

History of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest and best preserved object of the Angkor group. The perfection of its structure, balance, proportions, relief and sculpture make it one of the greatest architectural monuments in the world.

"Wat" means "temple" in Khmer. Probably this word was added to the word "Angkor" when it was occupied by Theravada followers in the 16th century. After 1432, when the city of Phnom Penh became the capital of the kingdom, Buddhist monks became responsible for Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat was built for the burial of King Suryavarman II in it. Drawing a parallel between the setting sun and death, the temple faces west. Also in favor of this theory are the bas-reliefs, arranged from left to right in accordance with the Hindu funeral ritual.

Architectural plan of Angor Wat

When walking along Angkor Wat itself, it is very difficult to determine its architectural plan due to the huge size of the temple complex. Such complexity and beauty both attract and distract attention. From afar, Angkor Wat looks like a colossal stone massif. accessed by a long paved road.

The height of Angkor Wat from the ground to the top of the central tower is more than it might seem: 65 meters. The temple consists of three triangular or square levels (1-3). Each subsequent one is smaller and higher than the previous one.

The first and second levels are bordered by covered galleries with columns. The third level is supported by five towers - four in the corners and one in the middle. These towers are the most expressive architectural element Angkor Wat. Sometimes this form of arrangement is called quinkans. The levels rising one above the other give the towers a conical shape.

Symbolism

Angkor Wat is a miniature stone replica of the universe. and is a terrestrial model of a space device. The central tower rises in the center of the temple, symbolizing the mythical Mount Meru, located in the center of the universe. The five towers correspond to the peaks of Mount Meru. The outer wall symbolizes the mountains at the end of the world, and the moat surrounding the temple complex symbolizes the oceans.

Location of Angor Wat

Although Anggor Wat is the most photographed Khmer architectural monument photos cannot convey all its greatness. Frank Vincent wrote about this 100 years ago: “The sight of this miracle makes an indelible impression: beauty, romance, grandeur - all this must be understood and appreciated. It is impossible to look at this temple without awe, without the feeling that you soared into heaven. Probably the most impressive building in the world."

Angkor Wat covers a rectangular area of ​​208 hectares (500 acres). The territory of the temple complex is fenced with a laterite wall. The complex is surrounded by a moat, which can be crossed by a long paved sandstone road (250 m (820 ft) long, 12 m (39 ft) wide). The road serves as the main entrance to the complex. The ditch is 200 m (656 ft) wide, with a 5.5 km (3.4 mi) perimeter.

The western entrance begins with a staircase leading to a cross-shaped sandstone terrace at the base of a long paved road. On both sides of the terrace, huge stone lions sit guarding the temple. Ahead you can see the end of the paved road and the gate with three towers of various heights. These towers at the entrance partially block the view of the five towers in the central area of ​​the temple. A long passage with square columns and a curved roof extends along the moat from left to right from the tower located at the entrance. This is the magnificent façade of Angkor Wat and an example of classical Khmer architecture.

Almost 70 years ago, after visiting the terrace of Angkor Wat, Helen Churchill Kandy wrote: " Any architect would have been delighted with the harmony of the façade - an uninterrupted row of columns leading from the far corners to central entrance, where three towers with destroyed tops are located". Initially, the facade was another row of columns with a roof. Round holes in the columns testify to this.

"Before walking down the paved road, turn right, go down a couple of terrace steps and walk a couple of meters along the path. This way you can enjoy the view of all five towers of Angkor Wat. Return to the center of the terrace and walk along the main paved road towards the main part of the temple. The left side of the paved road is made of older sandstone than the right side, which was restored by the French."

In the 20s of the XX century, when Casey walked along this paved road, he noticed one feature of its structure. The slabs it consisted of were irregularly shaped, which meant they had to be chiseled to fit together. In the midday light, the road looks like a long strip of moiré. On the left side of the road, almost reaching its middle, there are two sandstone feet. They belong to one of the statues at the entrance to Angkor Thom and were brought to Angkor Wat in this century when the paved road was being repaired.

The tops of three sections of this tower - one in the center and two on the sides - have collapsed. The approaches at either end of the gallery may have served as a passageway for elephants, horses and wagons, since they are located on the lowest level.

When Helen Churchill Candy saw these passages in 1920, she noted that the idea of ​​building a passageway for elephants was very unusual. The statue of standing Vishnu (with eight arms) is to the right of the tower at the entrance. On the left, traces of the original color are visible on the ceiling of the tower. Continue west along the second path (350 m (1148 ft) long, 9 m (30 ft) wide).

On both sides there is a low balustrade resembling the body of a snake. The balustrade is supported by small columns. If you look to the west, you can see the famous panorama of Angkor Wat depicted on the Cambodian flag. Standing at this point, I want to take a picture of five wonderful domes - friends of the sky, sisters of the clouds? And understand whether you are in the real world or in a fictional fantasy. Six pairs of solemn staircases with platforms on both sides of the road lead to the courtyard.

The staircase is flanked by a continuing snake-shaped balustrade. Such a structure is sometimes referred to as a landing platform. At the end of the balustrade, a snake rushes to the sky at right angles and gracefully spreads its nine heads in the shape of a fan. In the courtyard, just beyond the middle of the paved road, are two buildings that house the library. These "precious caskets of Khmer art" are perfectly shaped.

The large central area, columns and steps are arranged in the shape of a cross. For strength, some columns were replaced with cement ones. The original column is located in front of the left building of the library. There are two reservoirs in front of the library buildings (length - 65 m (213 ft), width - 50 m (164 ft)). The pond on the left is filled with water, while the second is usually empty.

"After passing the library, but before reaching the pools, turn left and follow the road for about 40 m (131 ft) to a large tree. From this point you have an excellent view of the five towers of Angkor Wat, especially at sunset. The path leads to a cruciform terrace, known as the "Terrace of Terror. This terrace is located directly in front of the main tower at the entrance to Angkor Wat."

The terrace is characterized by supporting columns and carved designs at its base. On three sides of the terrace there are stairs, on both sides of which sit lions. Ritual dances were held here. It is possible that it was from this point that the king watched the processions and received foreign guests. In the 1920s, Casey noted: “It is impossible not to feel that just a few hours ago this place was pulsing with life. Torches burned over the altars. Priests whispered ritual prayers. Dancing girls fluttered up the stairs ... It was only an hour or two ago, no more …".

From the terrace there is a beautiful view of the first level gallery called "Bas-relief Gallery" (215 x 187m (705x614 ft)). The outer side, which is closer to the visitors, is a row of 60 columns. The inner side is a continuous wall decorated with bas-reliefs.

"At this point, you can either continue straight ahead towards the central towers, or turn right to view the Gallery of Bas-reliefs. The cruciform galleries are the link between the first and second levels. This unique architectural design consists of two covered galleries with square columns in the form of a cross "The courtyard is divided into four equal parts and decorated with ponds and stairs. Several decorative elements in these galleries are windows with balustrades, rosettes on the vaults, an apsara border under the cornices and ascetics at the base of the columns."

"Some of the columns in the galleries of this courtyard have inscriptions in Khmer and Sanskrit. On both sides of the courtyard there are two libraries that are inferior in size to the libraries near the entrance to the complex. The right library - the 1000 Buddha Gallery - once contained many images relating to to the period of decline of Angkor Wat. Only a few such images have survived to this day. The left library - the Hall of Echo - got its name due to its unusual acoustics. "

"To hear the echo, you need to go to the end of the gallery, stand in the left corner with your back to the wall, hit yourself on the chest and listen carefully. If you want to visit the library, go through the door at the end of the gallery. This library offers a good view of the upper level of Angkor Wat."

"Go back to the center of the cruciform galleries and continue towards the central towers. You have to climb stairs. The outer wall of the second level gallery - the one closest to the visitors (100 x 115 m, 328 x 377 ft) - is solid and undecorated. Perhaps this was done in order to create a suitable environment for the meditations of the priests and the king."

The severity of the outer wall of the gallery of the second level is compensated by its interior decoration. The walls of the gallery are decorated with over 1500 apsaras (celestial dancers). These beautiful graceful creatures delight visitors.

When you first enter the courtyard, such a multitude of dancing female figures may seem monotonous. But if you come closer and look closely, you can see that they are all different and differ in hairstyles, attire and jewelry. These ethereal inhabitants of heaven are depicted in Angkor Wat in twos or threes.

In the 17th century, the Cambodian poet Pang wrote of the Apsaras: " Millions of graceful creatures fill you with such emotions that your eyes do not get tired, your soul is renewed, and your heart is saturated! They were not carved by human hands! They were created by the gods - living, beautiful women!"On the third level of Angkor Wat, only high priests and the king were allowed. On the third level there are no covered galleries, like on the other two, but this level is the basis for the five central towers, one of which is the most sacred image of the temple.

The height of the square base (length - 60 m) of the upper level is 13 m and rises 40 m above the second level. In the center of each side there are twelve stairs with 40 steps each. At the corners there are two more stairs with an angle of inclination of 70°, providing access to this level.

The third level is a space in the shape of a cross and is characterized by covered galleries and four paved courtyards. At the top of each staircase are a tower and columns. The tower at the entrance is connected to the central structure by corridors supported on both sides by double rows of columns. There are four towers in the corners of the upper level. Steps simultaneously connect and separate different parts of the structure. The upper level is surrounded by a narrow covered gallery with a double row of columns, and on the outside there are windows and balustrades. The central sanctuary rises 42 m above the upper level. The height of the largest of the five towers is equal to the height of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The central sanctuary houses the sacred image of the temple. Initially, there were four passages facing the four cardinal directions, however, they were closed some time after the sacking of Ankhgor Wat in the middle of the 15th century. Almost 500 years later, French archaeologists discovered a vertical depression in the center of the upper level at a depth of 27 m, which contained many gold items. From the top of the temple you can finally see the entire architectural plan of Angkor Wat. A view of stunning beauty opens up, confirming the ingenious ability of Khmer architecture to create harmonious proportions.

"Walk around the perimeter of the upper level outer gallery to enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside, the paved road to the west and the central group of towers. The gallery is not high enough to provide a full view of the surrounding area. But you can still see enough to realize what It took courage for the architects to erect this temple complex.You will be able to see the northwestern part of the moat up to the towering lotus-shaped peak that belongs to the central shrine.From this point, Angkor Wat seems so vast that it is difficult to realize that such a grandiose structure was erected by people ."

Gallery of bas-reliefs

"They attract attention with their beauty and keep it with their unusualness.", Helen Churchill wrote Kandy in bas-reliefs in 1920. The gallery of bas-reliefs encircling the first level of Angkor Wat is 1200 m 2 of images carved from sandstone. The bas-reliefs cover most of the inner wall from all four sides of the galleries. Their height is 2 m.

The details, the quality of composition and execution give them the right to be among the greatest examples of world art. The columns located along the outer wall of the gallery create an interesting play of light and shadow on the relief. The result is a textured wallpaper effect that looks more like the work of painters than sculptors. The bas-reliefs are incredibly richly decorated - a creation of power, calmness, imagination and fantasy, and giving the impression of "the highest dignity", as one visitor wrote 50 years ago.

The bas-reliefs are divided into 8 parts - two on each wall of the square gallery. Each part reflects a specific theme. Moreover, in the corners of the Eastern Gallery there are two pavilions, which also depict various themes.

Panels with bas-reliefs are arranged horizontally and usually consist of two or three parts. In some places, the edges of the panels are also decorated. The themes for the bas-reliefs were taken from two main sources - the Indian epic and sacred books and military items of the Angkor period. Some scholars suggest that the location of the bas-relief depended on the theme reflected in it. For example, the bas-reliefs on the east and west walls depict themes associated with sunrise and sunset. The word "ba" means "low" or "shallow" and means the degree of relief projection. The method of creating reliefs at Angkor Wat was that the craftsmen cut out the background, thus leaving the image itself in the relief. The surface of some reliefs seems to be polished.

This can be explained by two theories. The presence and location of polished areas in important parts of the relief suggests that this was the work of visitors who constantly touched the surface. Traces of gilding and paint, in particular black and red, are also visible on some reliefs. This may be the remains of a primer or a fixing agent. Some of the bas-reliefs depict the most common objects and phenomena. The river is depicted as two parallel vertical lines, between which a fish swims. As in Egyptian art, the rank of a person is determined by the size of his image: the higher the rank, the larger the size. In the battle scenes, a broken handle on the leader's umbrella signifies defeat. The temporal remoteness of the scene is determined by the number of planks placed one above the other: the higher such a "wall", the more ancient the depicted event. Figures with legs apart and bent knees means being in flight.

Visit to the Bas-relief Gallery

Those who want to stay longer in this wonderful Bas-Relief Gallery are sure to discover something new, because Angkor Wat offers visitors many pleasant surprises.

"Remember that the Angkor Wat bas-reliefs should be viewed from left to right. Enter with western entrance, turn right and enter the gallery, and then continue counterclockwise. If you start your tour from another point in the gallery, then make sure that the temple remains on your left side. If your time in Angkor Wat is limited, we advise you to see the following bas-reliefs."

This scene is the main theme described in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The scene depicts the last battle in Kurukshetra - one of the Indian provinces - between cousins ​​​​who were at enmity with each other. The Kaurava and Pandava armies approach each other, heading towards the center of the panel. The belonging of warriors to a particular clan can be determined by their headdresses. The scene begins with the infantry entering the battle, while the musicians play a rhythmic melody. This bas-relief depicts hand-to-hand combat where many soldiers died.

Senior officers and generals, depicted on a large scale, watch the battle from chariots or mounted on elephants and horses. The tension of the scene gradually increases and culminates in hand-to-hand combat. Bisma (pictured at the beginning of the panel), one of the heroes of the Mahabharata and the leader of the Kauravas, was hit by an arrow and is now dying, surrounded by his loyal warriors. Arjuna (a man with a shield depicting the face of the demon Rahu) shoots an arrow at his half-brother Karna and kills him. After death, Krishna (with four arms) becomes the driver on Arjuna's chariot.

"Currently preparing to publish photos of the galleries."

Corner Pavilion (Southwest)

East

South

North

South (historical) gallery - King Suryavarman II's army

This gallery depicts a magnificent triumphal procession of warriors returning from a battle between the Khmer and their enemies. The relief depicts the combat methods used, mostly hand-to-hand combat, since in those days people still knew nothing about technology and firearms.

In the background, trees and animals are incredibly believable and naturalistic. The central figure of this gallery is Emperor Suryavarman II, on whose orders the temple complex of Angkor Wat was built. Suryavarman II is depicted twice in the gallery. He is signed with his posthumous name, which suggests that the inscription was made after his death. The triangular holes randomly carved into the gallery may have contained valuable items stored at Angkor Wat. On the upper tier, the emperor, on whose body gilding is visible, holds a meeting on the top of a mountain surrounded by forest.

The whole army comes together for inspection, and the commanders, mounted on elephants, unite their troops, who begin to march towards the enemy. The rank of the commander can be determined by the inscription next to his image. Emperor Suryavarman II sits astride an elephant (a conical headdress, a sword over his shoulder). He is surrounded by servants holding 15 umbrellas. Vishnu is seated on Garuda, who sits on a flagpole near the king's elephant. Standard-bearers, musicians and jesters take part in the lively and noisy procession of the Sacred Fire. Brahmins sing to the accompaniment of cymbals. Royal offerings are carried in palanquins.

Toward the end of the panel: Troops of Thai warriors (in frilled floral skirts, braided hair, feathered headdresses, short mustaches) join the procession, led by an elephant-mounted commander. It is likely that the Thai troops were mercenaries from Louwo Province (now Lopburi Province) who bolstered the Khmer army. Khmer warriors wear helmets decorated with horns of various animals (deer, horses). Some of the shields depict monsters.

Pit court. Heaven and hell.

On three tiers, the judgment of humanity carried out by Yama is depicted, and on the other two tiers, heaven and hell. Judging by the inscriptions, 37 heavens are depicted here, where you can wander around beautiful palaces, and 32 hells with scenes of punishment and suffering. Heaven and hell are separated from each other by curtains and apsaras. At the bottom of the lower tier, a row of Garudas is depicted. The roof of the gallery was destroyed by lightning in 1947, but then the ceiling was restored by the efforts of the French. The riders depicted at the beginning of the panel show traces of gilding. The bottom of the panel was severely damaged and the cracks were sealed with cement.

Lower tier: Chief Judge Yama (many-armed, wields a staff, and rides a buffalo) points out to his assistants the upper road, representing Heaven, and the lower road, representing Hell. The spirits of dead people await his verdict. Yama's assistants push the villains into the door leading to Hell, where they bear various punishments. For example, those people who were constantly handed over during their lifetime are sawn in half, and the bones of criminals are broken. Some of the punished are wearing iron shackles, while others have nails stuck in their heads. Upper tier: Garudas and apsaras support the heavenly palace floating in the air.

Eastern Gallery - Whipping the Milky Sea

This is the most famous bas-relief of Angkor Wat, based on the ancient Indian epic "Bhagavata Purana". In this scene, angels and demons are churning the Sea of ​​Milk to obtain amrita, the elixir of life. They want to return the lost treasures - the source of immortality, the goddess of wealth Lakshmi, the milk of the white elephant Indra and the nymph of beauty. These objects symbolize well-being and prosperity. This event takes place during the second advent of Vishnu, when he returned in the form of a turtle.

The stage occupies three tiers. In the lower tier, various sea animals are presented - both real and mythical. The lower tier is bordered by a snake. On one side of the middle tier there is a row of 92 demons (round bulging eyes, helmets with crests), and on the other side a row of 88 gods (almond-shaped eyes, conical headdresses). Demons and gods churn the sea with the body of the serpent Vasuki. They are assisted by Hanuman, the monkey god. Vishnu in the guise of a tortoise holds the Mandara mountain on his shell, around which the whipping takes place. Vishnu is at the bottom of the Sea. The demons hold the snake by the head, and the gods by the tail. Rhythmically rotating the long body of the serpent, they churn the sea with it.

Gods and demons obey the three gods (their images are larger). Indra stands over Vishnu, and on the right, the ally of the gods Hanuman tickles the snake Vasuki. Upper tier: Various female spirits appear during the churning of the sea. In this scene, Vishnu is again depicted, but already in the form of a man. He controls the churning of the sea, which, according to legend, lasted over a thousand years.

Other creatures are also depicted here - for example, the three-headed elephant of Indra, apsaras and the goddess of beauty Lakshmi. On sea ​​waves a deadly poison is seen, which was vomited by the Vasuki snakes. Fearing that the poison could destroy the gods and demons, Brahma asks Shiva to drink the poison, which will leave an unhealed mark in his throat. Shiva obeys and as a result produces amrita. The demons rush in to intercept the elixir. Vishnu rushes to the rescue, taking the form of the charming beauty Maya. Vishnu manages to save the precious liquid.

Inscription

In the middle of the East Gallery there is an interesting inscription dating back to the beginning of the 18th century - the time when Angkor Wat was a Buddhist monastery. The inscription tells of a governor of one of the provinces who built a small tomb to store the bones of his wife and children. The tomb is in poor condition, but it is clearly visible. It is located right in front of the inscription in the gallery.

Victory of Vishnu over Demons.

The bas-reliefs in the East Gallery and in the southern part of the North Gallery must have been completed later, in the 15th or 16th century. This is evidenced by a certain stiffness, ceremony in the depiction of figures and a low level of skill. The demon army is heading towards the center of the panel. In the center is a four-armed Vishnu seated on Garuda.

Then comes the battle scene. Vishnu strikes his enemies advancing from all sides, throwing their bodies away from him. Demon leaders (mounted on animals or riding in chariots pulled by monsters) are surrounded by warriors. They are joined by another group of warriors (with bows and arrows) led by their leaders, who ride chariots or sit astride huge peacocks.

Krishna's victory over the demon king Bana

At the beginning of the panel, Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, is seated on Garuda. Agni, the many-armed god of fire, sits astride a rhinoceros behind Vishnu. This scene has been depicted several times. The wall surrounding the city is on fire, which prevents Krishna and his army of gods from entering the city. This scene with Krishnu is also repeated several times on the panel. Garuda extinguishes the fire with water from the sacred river Ganges. The many-armed demon Bana (riding a rhinoceros) is approaching the army of the gods from the other side. Right panel area: Krishna (1000 heads, arms crossed over chest) kneels before Shiva, who is seated on a throne on Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati and son Ganesa (with the head of an elephant). They ask Shiva to have mercy on Banu.

Battle between gods and demons

The 21 gods of the Brahman pantheon walk in procession, carrying their classical attributes and sitting on their traditional animals. Scenes of opposition of one god to one demon are depicted. In the background is a battle between the armies on the side of the gods and on the side of the demons. The god of wealth Kubera (with a bow and arrows) appears astride a yak, the god of war Skanda (many-headed and many-armed) - on a peacock, Indra? on an elephant, four-armed Vishnu on Garuda. The god of death and justice (with a sword and shield) Yama stands in a chariot drawn by horses. Varian, the water god, harnessed and saddled a five-headed serpent.

Corner Pavilion (Northwest)

North

West

South

East

Western Gallery - Lanka Battle

This scene from the Ramayana is a long and fierce battle between Rama and the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms) depicted in the center of the gallery. This is one of the most impressive bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat. The battle taking place in Lanka (the island of Sri Lanka) ends with the defeat of Ravana, who kidnapped the beautiful wife of Rama Sita. The central figures are warrior monkeys fighting on the side of Rama.

The cruelty of war is compared with the grace and agility of monkeys. Near center: Rama stands on Sugriva's shoulders under a hail of arrows; near Rama are his brother Lakshmana and an old demon. Nearby, the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms) rides in a chariot drawn by mythical lions.

Between them is depicted Nala leaning on the heads of two lions. Nala is the monkey who built the Rama bridge to Lanka. Nala tosses the body of the warrior he has defeated over her shoulder. The Monkey Prince pulls an elephant tusk from his three-pronged headdress and hurls the tusk and the demon to the ground.

Why is the most big temple people left the world? What is the connection of the Angkor Wat complex with the spiral of the constellation Draco? Why was a dinosaur depicted on the bas-relief of Angkor Wat? The article reflects the point of view official history and chronology.

The temple complex of Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple not only in Cambodia, but also in the World, the largest religious building of mankind, created according to the traditional version by the Khmer king Suryavarman II about a thousand years ago. (1113-1150 AD)

The construction of the temple of Angkor Wat lasted 30 years, it became the largest temple in the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. The area of ​​Angkor Wat is 2.5 sq. km. (This is almost 3 times larger than the area of ​​the Vatican), and the size of the entire ancient Khmer capital of Angkor with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants exceeded 200 square kilometers. For comparison, for example, the second largest known city of the same ancient era was the city of Tikal - the largest city of the Maya civilization, located on the territory of modern Guatemala. Its size was about 100 sq. km., that is, 10 times smaller, and the population was only from 100 to 200 thousand people.

Tourist map of the location of the main temples of Angkor

Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the ancient capital, but far from the only one. The city of Angkor - being the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries included many Hindu and Buddhist temples, many of which are quite well preserved to this day. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and characterizes different periods of the heyday of the power of the Khmer Empire. Later historians will call this period of Khmer history - Angkorian.

Main entrance to Angkor Wat from the western side

The construction of Angkor lasted about 400 years. It was started by the founder of the Angkorian dynasty, the Hindu prince Jayavarman II in 802, who declared himself the "universal ruler" and "Sun King" in Cambodia. The last temple complexes were erected in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. After his death in 1218, construction ceased. The reason for this, according to one version, was that the Khmer Empire simply ran out of sandstone deposits, according to another, the empire found itself in a brutal war and it was impossible to continue construction. The Angkorian period of Khmer history ended in 1431, when the Thai invaders finally captured and sacked the Khmer capital and forced the population to move south to the Phnom Penh region, which became the new Khmer capital. However, historians are still looking for evidence of the true reasons for the fall of the Khmer Empire.

190 meters wide moat around Angkor Wat

In Angkor, the largest temple complexes stand out - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (which includes several temples at once, the largest of which is the Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Preah Kan. The most remarkable temple was and remains Angkor Wat, which is still the largest religious building in the world. Its height is 65 meters. The temple is surrounded by a giant moat 190 meters wide, measuring 1300 meters by 1500 meters. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150) in 30 years, Angkor Wat became the largest sacred building in the world. After the death of King Suryavarman II, the temple accepted him into its walls and became a tomb-mausoleum.

Angkor Wat - The story of the discovery of the lost city of Angkor

Anchor Wat gained wide popularity in the modern world after the publication in 1861 of the diaries and reports of the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muo about his expeditions in Indochina. The following lines can be found in his diary:

“The monuments of building art that I have seen are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are an example of the highest level in comparison with any monuments that have survived from ancient times. I have never felt so happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never trade this life for the pleasures and comforts of the civilized world.”

View of Angkor Wat from the northwest side (reflection in the water)

Henri Mouhot (fr. Henri Mouhot) was born in 1826 in France, and from the age of 18 he taught French and Greek at the Russian military academy in St. Petersburg. After returning to his homeland, he married the daughter of a famous English explorer and moved to Scotland. And already in 1857, Henri Muo decided to go on a trip to South-East Asia(Indochina) to collect zoological specimens. During his time in Asia, he traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Perhaps he had a presentiment, a few months after the last visit to Angkor Wat, in 1861 he died of malaria, on his fourth expedition to Laos. He was buried in the same place, near the capital Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang), the location of his tomb is known even now. The diaries of Henri Muo are stored in London, in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society (Royal Geographical Society, London).

Tomb of the French explorer Henri Muo (1826-1861) in Laos

The greatness of the Angkor Wat temple he saw for the first time shocked Henri Muo, in his notes he wrote the following about Angkor Wat:

“The temple is incomprehensible to the mind and beyond all imagination. You look in embarrassment and confusion, admire and, seized with reverence, freeze in reverent silence ... How sublime must have been the genius of this Michelangelo of the East, the genius of the creator of such a wondrous creation! He managed to connect the various parts into a single whole with such art that one can only be surprised at this. He followed the fulfillment of his dreams and achieved, both in general and in particular, such completeness of details worthy of the whole, which only the most gifted can do.

The majestic central tower of Angkor Wat

The etymology of the name of the temple of Angkor Wat

"Angkor Wat" is not the original name of the temple, as neither the foundation stelae of the temple nor any inscriptions regarding the name of the time have been found. What the ancient temple city was then called is unknown, and it is likely that it was called "Vrah Vishnulok" (literally "Place of Saint Vishnu"), in honor of the god to whom it was dedicated.

View of Angkor Wat from the northeast side of the building

Most likely, the name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara", meaning "city". In Khmer, it is read as “noko” (“kingdom, country, city”), however, in common speech, it is much more convenient for Khmers to pronounce “ongko”. The latter is very consonant with the concept of harvest close to the peasants, and can be literally translated as "harvested rice grains."

The young descendants of the almighty demigod king Suryavarman II

Over the centuries, the reduced common people "ongko" acquired the meaning of a proper name, which was fixed in the name of the ancient metropolitan area of ​​Angkor (or Ongkor), the former capital of the Angkor Empire, angkor thom and the temple of Angkor Wat.

Everything in this world is subject to nature - even the walls of the great Angkor

The word “Wat” comes from the Pali expression “vatthu-arama” (“the place where the temple is built”), which denoted the sacred land of the monastery monastery, but in many countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) it has long had a broader meaning , referring to any Buddhist monastery, temple or pagoda. In Khmer, "woat" can mean both "temple" and "reverence, admiration." Indeed, Angkor Wat - the largest temple of the city of the gods of Angkor, is a symbol of national pride of the Khmers.

Sculptures of seven-headed snakes on the way to the temple

In Khmer, the name of Angkor Wat is pronounced "Ongkowoat". In the vast majority of sources, it is interpreted as a "temple city". Since the name "Angkor" has been used in the meaning of a proper name since the 15th-16th centuries, a more accurate translation can be assumed - "the temple of Angkor".

In the backyard of Angkor Wat

Why did people leave the largest temple in the world?

The reason why the Khmers left the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat, at the mercy of the jungle about 500 years ago and left Angkor to explore the new capital of their kingdom, Phnom Penh, is still the subject of discussion among historians and archaeologists. For more than 100 years, hundreds of archaeologists from all over the world have been trying to lift the veil of secrecy over the ancient Khmer capital - the city of the gods Angkor. The fact is that the past has left us a negligible amount of written evidence related to the history of the construction of temples in Angkor. The painstaking work of many years of researchers is gradually revealing to us the secrets of the sacred temple of Angkor Wat, making new adjustments to various historical theories related to its origin and purpose.

A rare shot of the temple wall when there are no tourists and a contrasting sky

Khmer temples were never intended for gatherings of believers, they were built as a dwelling place for the gods. Access to the central buildings of the complexes was open only to priests and monarchs. The largest temple in the city of the gods, Angkor Wat had an additional function: it was originally planned as a burial place for kings.

Top view of Angkor Wat (Height 200 meters)

It is noteworthy that the successors of Jayavarman II followed his building principles. Each new ruler completed the city in such a way that its core was constantly moving: the center of the old city was on the outskirts of the new one. So this giant city gradually grew. In the center, each time a five-tower temple was erected, symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the world. As a result, Angkor turned into a whole city of temples. The splendor of the Khmer Empire was somewhat dimmed during the hard and long wars with the Tyams and Tays. In 1431, Thai (Siamese) troops completely captured Angkor: the city was depopulated, as if a ruthless epidemic had swept through it. Over time, the humid climate and lush vegetation turned the capital into ruins and the jungle completely swallowed it up.

The entire territory of Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, only the area around the temples was cleared

Hard times (external and internal wars) in the history of Cambodia (Kampuchea) did not allow foreigners to visit the brilliant masterpiece of Asian architecture. For a long time, the temples of Angkor were difficult to access for a wide range of researchers, archaeologists and historians. The situation changed in December 1992, when the temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, which deservedly added to the list of one of the largest temples in the world, were included in the list of world monuments. cultural heritage UNESCO, and a year later in Tokyo, the International Coordinating Committee was established, which set as its goal to revive the former splendor of Angkor. Sources of financing for the project were found and active restoration work began. Huge trees are cut down that destroy walls, entrances, ceilings, walls, paths are restored. Scientists from different countries. There will be enough work for everyone for many decades.

Internal passages in different temples of Angkor are very similar

The mysterious connection of Angkor with the spiral of the constellation Draco

In 1996, the British archaeologist and historian John Grigsby, exploring Angkor, came to the conclusion that the Angkor temple complex is an earthly projection of a certain section of the Milky Way, and the main structures of Angkor model the wavy spiral of the northern constellation Draco. To begin research in the direction of searching for correlations between heaven and earth in relation to Angkor, he was prompted by a mysterious inscription from the time of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer king during whose time Angkor Thom and Bayon were built in the 12th century. On a stele excavated on the territory of the Bayon temple, it was inscribed - "the country of Kambu is similar to the sky."

Constellation Draco and Ursa Minor in our time

A certain connection with the stars was also indicated by the inscription made by the builders of the large pyramidal temple of Phnom Bakeng, built during the time of King Yasovarman I (889-900 AD). The inscription says that the purpose of the temple is to symbolize "with its stones the celestial movements of the stars." The question arose whether there existed in Cambodia a correlation of heaven and earth similar to the Egyptian (connection of the pyramids of Giza with the constellation Orion)?

The exact layout of the main temples of Angkor

The fact is that the projection of the constellation of the dragon by the main temples of Angkor on Earth turned out to be not entirely accurate. The distances between the temples are proportional to the distances between the stars, but the mutual arrangement of the temples, that is, the angles between the segments connecting the temples, does not exactly repeat the picture in the sky. In addition, it should be noted that Angkor is not a projection of the Draco constellation on the earth's surface, but a projection of an entire section of the sky around the Dragon, including several stars from the Northern Crown, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, Deneb from Cygnus. All sacred places on Earth reproduce this or that part of the sky along the Milky Way.

The constellation of the dragon 10500 BC

In the same 1996, another British amateur researcher, John Grigsby, joined the scientific and historical work on Angkor. Having set out to establish the exact date when the sky pattern corresponded to a given location of temples in Angkor, they did a lot of research work using computer technology. The results of their research stirred up the world archaeological community. Computer research has shown that the main temples of Angkor are indeed terrestrial reflections of the stars of the constellation Draco and that it was in this position that the stars were on the day of the spring equinox in 10500 BC. e.

Comparison of the layout of the temples of Angkor and the stars of the constellation Draco

Now few people doubt the fact that Angkor was really built between the 9th and 13th centuries. AD, however, how could the subjects of the Cambodian kings know the picture of the sky more than 10,000 years ago, because by their time the precession had already hidden part of the projected picture beyond the horizon. It was hypothesized that all the main temples of Angkor were built on more ancient structures, as evidenced by the huge slabs of facing artificial channels made of megaliths, the presence of polygonal masonry, high skill in stone processing, stone castles, but it is not known when those were built. However, if they were already projecting the constellation Draco...

Covered with kilometers of fine carving, the huge masonry stones of the temples fit perfectly to each other, are not fastened by anything and are held only by their own weight. There are temples where it is impossible to stick a blade between the stones, moreover, they are irregularly shaped and curved, like puzzles, where none of the modern technologies is able to recreate the experienced beauty of these temples.

Magnificent bas-reliefs on the outer walls of Angkor Wat Apsara - Sky Dancers

Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could Khmers see dinosaurs?

The hypothesis of the creation of Angkor in the XI century BC. does not contradict the fact that the temples, as we see them today, were built between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. e. famous Khmer monarchs, but not everything is so simple. For example, the temple of Ta-Prom is full of intricately carved statues and stone columns with bas-reliefs carved on them. Along with images of gods and goddesses of ancient Hindu mythological scenes, hundreds of bas-reliefs depict real animals (elephants, snakes, fish, monkeys). Nearly every inch of gray sandstone is covered with decorative carvings. What was the amazement of scientists who discovered in Ta-Prom on one of the columns an image Stegosaurus- a herbivorous dinosaur that existed 155-145 million years ago.

Researchers have proven that this bas-relief is not a fake. One can only guess where the Khmers saw the stegosaurus? How to explain it?

Bas-relief depicting a Stegosaurus on one of the columns of Angkor Wat

Sacred numerology of Angkor - coincidence or prophecy?

What is this mysterious date - the day of the vernal equinox 10500 BC? It was on this day that the stars of the constellation of the dragon were in the projection that the Angkor temple complex reproduces on earth, if you look at it from above. This date is associated with the process of precession of celestial bodies. The Earth is like a giant top, under the influence of the gravity of the Sun and the Moon, it makes a slow circular rotation. The Moon and the Sun, by their attraction, tend to rotate the axis of the Earth, as a result, the phenomenon of precession occurs.

The projection of the earth's axis, as it were, outlines a giant circle in the North of the celestial sphere, covering the constellations Draco and Ursa Minor. At the edge of the circle are Vega, Alpha Draconis and polar Star. This movement of the earth's axis along a circular line, a kind of swaying of the axis of rotation, is called precession.

Schematic representation of the precession of the earth's axis

Astrologers believe that the cycle of precession is 25920 years, the so-called Great Year (the period during which the pole of the celestial equator makes a complete circle around the pole of the ecliptic). During this time, the earth's axis passes a full circle in the Zodiac. Moreover, one astrological era is equal to 1/12 of the cycle (25920:12=2160) and is 2160 years. One month of the Great Year, lasting 2160 Earth years, is the astrological epoch. Each space epoch (2160 earth years) represents a whole stage in the development of mankind, associated with the sign of the Zodiac through which the earth's axis passes. This period was in some mystical way known to the famous Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that this (25920 years) is the period of existence earthly civilization. Therefore, the period of precession is also called the Great Platonic Year (Great Year of Plato). One day of the Great Year is theoretically equal to 72 of our years (25920:360=72 years - the earth's axis passes 1 ecliptic).

Movement along the stellar spiral of time - Everything returns to normal ...

Today, the North Pole of the world is, as you know, the North Star, but this was not always the case, and in the III millennium BC. The North Pole of the world was located where the star α (Alpha) - the Dragon is located. The precession of the earth's axis is known to cause a visible change in the position of the stars with a period of 25,920 years, that is, 1 degree is 72 years. In 10,500 B.C. at the lowest point of the trajectory was the constellation Orion, and at the highest - the constellation Draco. There is a kind of "Orion-Dragon pendulum". Since then, the precessional process has managed to turn the celestial pole half a circle relative to the ecliptic pole, and today Draco is near the lowest point, and Orion is the highest. MIT history professor Giorgio de Santillana and his colleague, Dr. Herta von Dehehend, based on their research, concluded that the entire Angkor is a huge precession model. The following facts speak in its favor:

At Angkor Wat, 108 nagas are shown pulling a huge spinning top in two directions (54 by 54);

On both sides of the 5 bridges leading to the gates to the Temple of Angkor Thom, there are huge sculptures in parallel rows - 54 Devas and 54 Asuras. 108x5 = 540 statues x 48=25920;

The Bayon temple is surrounded by 54 massive stone towers, each of which has four giant faces of Lokeshvara carved, oriented to the north, south, east and west, which in total is 216 faces - (216:3=72), (216:2=108 ). 216 - 10 times less than the duration of one precessional era (2160 years); 108 is 216 divided by two;

The central sanctuary of Phnom Bakheng is surrounded by 108 turrets. The number 108, one of the most sacred in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is equal to the sum of 72 and 36 (that is, 72 plus half of 72);

A regular pentagon has an angle of 108 degrees, and the sum of its 5 angles is 540 degrees;

The distance between the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, where the wise men ruled, who walked the astronomical "road of Horus", and sacred temples Angkor in Cambodia, with a slight rounding, is an important geodetic value - 72 degrees of longitude. From the ancient Egyptian language "Ankh-Khor" literally translates as "the god Horus lives";

In total, Angkor has 72 main stone and brick temples and monuments.

The length of the sections of the main roads in Angkor Wat reflects the duration of the four yugas (the great world eras of Hindu philosophy and cosmology) - Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Their duration is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. And in Angkor Wat, the length of the main sections of the road is 1728, 1296, 864 and 432 huts.

They look at us from the walls of temples through the millennia and ... smile)))

The cosmic meaning of the number 72 and its power over humanity

Let us dwell on the sacred number - 72 in more detail, because there are too many coincidences associated with it in our life:

The number 72 is considered a sacred number in all religions.

The Khmer alphabet has 72 letters and the same number of sounds.

The ancient Indian language "Sanskrit" (the language of classical Indian literature, sacred texts, mantras and rituals of Hinduism, Jainism, and partly Buddhism) uses the Devanagari alphabet. Devanagari means "writing of the Gods" or "Urban language" and there are 36 phoneme letters in Devanagari of classical Sanskrit (72:2=36). Devanagari uses 72 basic ligatures (combinations of consonants represented by an independent character).

The oldest runic system, the so-called "Elder Futhark" consists of 24 runes, each rune can represent a letter, syllable, word or image. Moreover, the image is of paramount importance. But in one rune, up to three images can be hidden, depending on the context (24x3=72). Moreover, all these images will be connected in one way or another. The ancient runic alphabet became the root for almost all existing Indo-European alphabets. Those 24 runes that they know today are the third part of the real language, because if you multiply 24 by three, you get just 72 runes. Because the ancients taught that the world is three-fold. One of them is the earthly world of Getig, the second is the intermediate world of Ritag, and the third is the upper world of Menog. Here are the three forms of runes.

In the ancient Avestan language (the language of the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism) there were 72 letters for all possible pronunciations of sounds;

The most significant book of the Avesta is Yasna, which is a text read at the main Zoroastrian liturgy "Yasna", contains 72 chapters;

The number 72, both in Sanskrit and in the original Avesta, found its manifestation in the 72 threads of the sacred Kushti belt, which every Zoroastrian has, as a symbolic connection to religion, or rather, as an umbilical cord connecting a person with the Lord God.

In Judaism, the number 72 is considered sacred and is inextricably linked with the name of God, the forbidden name to which the universe is subject. These are 72 sequences of letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each of which corresponds to a specific sound, which have an amazing power to overcome the laws of nature in all forms, including human nature. According to legend, the name of God encompasses everything that exists, which means that one who knows how to pronounce it correctly will be able to ask the Creator for whatever he wants.

The unpronounceable name of God is the main subject of study of medieval Kabbalists. It was believed that this name contains all the forces of nature, it contains the very essence of the universe. The name of God is also depicted by the tetragrammaton - a triangle with letters inscribed in it. If you add up the numerical values ​​of the letters placed in the tetragrammaton, it turns out - 72.

In the legend about the Tabernacle (Temple), the ancient Jews mention 72 almond buds, with which they decorated the candlestick used in the sacred rite, it is a combination of 12 and 6 (that is, half of 12) and personifies realized harmony. The mystical root of the number 72 is also the legendary nine.

The number 72 is the number of the mother of God. She left this world at the age of 72. No wonder Vysotsky sings in one of his songs: “girl, 72nd, don’t leave the altar!”;

The human DNA molecule is a rotating cube. When the cube is rotated sequentially by 72 degrees according to a certain model, an icosahedron is obtained, which, in turn, is a pair of a dodecahedron. Thus, the double strand of the DNA helix is ​​built on the principle of two-way correspondence: the icosahedron is followed by the dodecahedron, then again the icosahedron, and so on. This sequential rotation through the cube by 72 degrees creates a DNA molecule.

The points of intersection of the diagonals in the pentagon are always points of the "golden section"

Three-level device of the temple of Angkor Wat

The Angkor Wat temple complex has three levels. It consists of a series of concentric, rectangular enclosed spaces, including three rectangular galleries, each towering over the next with open courtyards, interconnected by cruciform galleries. In fact, Angkor Wat is a huge three-tiered pyramid.

One of the views of Angkor Wat

Climbing the stairs and passing through the first two of three successively ascending galleries, one enters the third gallery, famous for its bas-reliefs, most of which are magnificent in their execution.

One of the bas-reliefs on the wall of Angkor Wat - Scene from the life of the Khmer king

Apart from the bas-reliefs in the corner pavilions, they stretch for almost 700 meters, being almost 2 meters high, being the longest bas-reliefs in the world. Thousands of figures depict scenes from the Hindu epic Bhagavad Purana, palace and military life in the days of Suryavarman II, the founder of the temple of Angkor Wat.

Ancient warriors on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat

Since the main entrance to Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat with water 190 meters wide around the perimeter, forming a square-shaped island, the temple grounds can only be reached by stone bridges on the western and eastern sides of the temple. The main entrance to Angkor Wat from the west is a wide pavement built from massive sandstone blocks. Crossing the cruciform terrace, which is a later addition to the complex, we see ahead of us the entrance to the western gopura with the remains of three towers.

Directly at the main entrance to Angkor Wat

Now the entrance to the gopura is on the right, through the sanctuary under the south tower, where the eight-armed statue of Vishnu fills the entire space. This statue, which clearly has little space in this room, may have originally been located in the central sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

big statue ten-armed god Vishnu - Angkor Wat Temple

After passing through the gopura, a magnificent view of the main temple towers at the end of the road opens up. At sunrise they are surrounded by the radiant silhouette of the morning sky, and at sunset they glow orange. Continuing our way inside Angkor Wat, we observe on both sides of the main road - two large, so-called "libraries" with four entrances to each side of the world. They were a kind of sanctuaries, and not warehouses of manuscripts, as the name suggests.

Breathtaking Sunrise Over Angkor Wat

Closer to the temple, on both sides of the road, there are two more reservoirs dug later, in the 16th century. Inside the temple you will be greeted by 1800 apsaras (celestial dancers).

Along with tourists, Buddhist monks are frequent visitors to Angkor Wat.

Climbing up to the second level of the temple, you can see a breathtaking sight - the peaks of the central towers rising from behind the courtyard. From the entrance, to all the central towers, as well as the two internal libraries of the second level, you can go along pedestrian bridges on short round bars.

View from the second floor of the temple

Gradually climbing the stone steps to the highest, third level of the Angkor Wat temple - the heart of the complex, huge conical towers open, located in the center and corners of the square, symbolizing the five heavenly peaks of the sacred Mount Meru - the center of the universe.

One of the four large corner towers of Angkor Wat

The highest level of Angkor Wat and its galleries only emphasize the perfect proportions of the famous towers of the temple and make the overall view unforgettable. The central tower, or altar, was the abode of the god Vishnu, and since Angkor Wat was originally a Vishnu temple, and only later turned into a Buddhist one, it once stood a statue of Vishnu, perhaps the one that now stands at the entrance to the western gopura. It was an ancient custom among the Khmers to make offerings to the god in the form of gold sheets or small gems, which were left in a recess below the statue of the god. Unfortunately, these offerings have been looted over the centuries.

One of the buddha statues inside the temple

Today, only some of the statues of the god Vishnu or Buddha are displayed in the southern part of the galleries. The large reclining Buddha is still worshiped by local and Asian visitors.

"Buddha sleeps" - This Buddha statue, a place of special reverence for Buddhists in Angkor Wat

All temple capital Angkor and the largest temple of Angkor Wat in particular are the heart and soul of the Khmer people, the people of free Kampuchea, a symbol of the prosperity of the Khmer civilization, which had a huge impact on the cultures of all the states of Southeast Asia. The image of the temple of Angkor Wat adorns the national flag of Cambodia (Kampuchea) and is its symbol.

State flag Kingdom of Cambodia (Kampuchea, Cambodia)

The era of Angkor lasted seven centuries. Many believe that the founders of the city of the gods Angkor were descendants of previous civilization and this is a direct legacy of the great and mysterious Atlantis. Until now, the battles of historians over the officially announced dates for the construction of temples in Angkor and Angkor Wat have not ceased. There are more and more facts indicating that people settled in these places long before the heyday of the Khmer culture, but in the dates, many sources contradict each other, and quite significantly.

great story Angkor continues to save our souls...

However, all figures quite accurately reflect the peak of the heyday and greatness of the Khmer Angkorian era, in which the highest cultural achievements were achieved. The history of this period, which left us no paper manuscripts, is being restored with the help of inscriptions in Pali, Sanskrit and Khmer found on the monuments and sculptures of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes of Angkor. Active archaeological and historical research in Angkor continues to this day, continuing to amaze the world with new discoveries of the secrets and mysteries of the great temple of Angkor Wat.

Documentary "Angkor Wat - Home worthy of the gods"

"Angkor Wat - Home worthy of the gods" - This is a popular science, documentary from National Geographic from the series "Superstructures of antiquity", dedicated to the world famous temple of Angkor Wat (Angkor-Wat) in Cambodia (Kampuchea). The authors of the film made an attempt to show the grandeur of the city of the gods Angkor and reveal the secret of the construction of the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Abandoned by people under unclear circumstances more than 500 years ago, the Cambodian city of Angkor impresses with its scale - this is a giant stone map universe and one of the most wonderful creations humanity.