Cambodia: TREASURES OF KHMER EMPIRE (1of2) [EN]
A sacred site of Angkor, a sprawling archaeological treasure trove covering 250 square miles of jungle in the center of Cambodia.
The sculptural decoration of Angkor Wat, is if anything, even more astonishing than the architecture. That the main temple alone should constitute the largest religious building in all history, covering an area as great as that of the largest pyramids, is astounding enough; that every square inch of such a structure should be carved and decorated, passes imagination. Yet so it has been, and with a loving care and skill which have infused the cold stone with pulsating life.
Angkor Wat, in its beauty and state of preservation, is unrivaled. Its mightiness and magnificence bespeak a pomp and a luxury surpassing that of a Pharaoh or a Shah Jahan, an impressiveness greater than that of the Pyramids, an artistic distinctiveness as fine as that of the Taj Mahal.
Angkor Wat, the largest monument of the Angkor group and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief’s and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world. The general appearance of the wonder of the temple is beautiful and romantic as well as impressive and grand it must be seen to be understood and appreciated. One can never look upon the ensemble of the vat without a thrill, a pause, a feeling of being caught up onto the heavens. Perhaps it is the most impressive sight in the world of edifices.
One stands dumbfounded at the mere thought of the labor involved in the six miles of exquisitely carved moldings on the steps which line the great moat; or at the ten thousand stone pinnacles of lace-like intricacy embled to crown each of the five towers; or the two thousand life-size reliefs of apsaras, ranged like some celestial corps de ballet, clothed in the most gorgeous stuffs and sporting unbelievable head-dresses, no two alike; or at the acres of background ornament, carved to represent the floral patterns. One of the supreme masterpieces of world sculpture in terms of quality alone, this bas-relief is some six feet high and over a mile in length.
The themes of the continuous reliefs are taken from Hindu epics. Particularly noteworthy are the battle scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. At Angkor Wat the great battle between the forces of the demon-king and the cohorts of the monkey general is depicted with enormous verve in a monumental composition.
In this temple, Vishnu’s heaven, he was depicted as merciful and compassionate, despite his mighty power. Deep in cosmic sleep, he creates a new world. His great deeds of chivalry were described in the Mahabharata and handed down from generation to generation. They provided the sculptors of Angkor Wat with subject matter as well as inspiration for their sandstone canvases.
The most monumental relief and possibly the most magnificent, is the depicting of Samudra Manthan – ‘the Churning of the Sea of Milk’.
The Gods and Titans (asuras) though in eternal conflict, formed a temporary alliance to procure the drink of immortality, amrita or ambrosia. The body of the Cosmic Serpent, Vasuki, an avatar of Vishnu, was twined around the ‘World Mountain’ Mount Madara placed in the primal void of the ‘Sea of Milk’ and teams of ninety-two demons and eight-eight gods ranged on either side, grasped the head and tail of the serpent and enacted a celestial tug-of-war under the direction of Vishnu. They pulled the serpent back and forth and the mountain, pivoted on the back of the Cosmic Tortoise, Kurma — yet another manifestation of Vishnu — rotated, acting as a churning stick. As the Milky Ocean turned to butter, various symbols of power and delight emerged: apasaras, jewels, a milk-white charger and elephant, and Dhanvantari, the physicians of gods, bearing a bowl of brimming with amrita.
Duration : 0:6:0
Tags: Angkor, Bayon, Cambodia, Empire, Kampuchea, Khmer, Wat
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
this ing …
this ing currymuncher is jelous cause we take credit us khmers were a land full of warriors not big mouths smelly currymunchers half our wall carvings is war fighting against other ruthles asian armys not currymunchers currymuncher is just jelous of our great civilization and if tamil currymuncher invented muay boran why dont you see any smelly taxi driver practicing it tamil what a race.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
the smelly taxi …
the smelly taxi driver arnotkaling just jealous because we took the religion and made it more great as us asians always do for a civilization to build such a great temple and wall carvings full of storys makes me believe the religion came from us thank you smelly currymunchers for teaching us your grat religion now u can go back and stink up your passengers.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
ahmekkhmer …
ahmekkhmer ah-chhkeh-lor-ngung-khlao,
why are you so in’ idiotic that you don’t realize that by blamin’ the genocide on another nation, you imply that you’re so in’ silly that you follow the order of foreigners 2 commit a genocide against your own people??
you in’ khmer rouge, lots of my relatives were killed directly or indirectly by you the khmer rouge. WATCH OUT!! if i happen 2 run in2 you, things will happen!!
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Lord Shiva was …
Lord Shiva was worshipped in this Temples and ANGKOR WAT has a Golden ERA until the Satanic Islamic Rulers Destroyed all its Glories and Looted and Plundered it completely
If today its so Beautiful to look Imagine how it would had looked when it was alive
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
You, the one have …
You, the one have to go to die or go where you are first came from. what is wrong with your devil head? is that you represent to yourself by talking trash like that to other? is that how Thai people do? that is so low as a Scumbag man, be a human, please not be an animal!!! khun nun la pai tai sis dew nee ley.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
you mean.. from the …
you mean.. from the kingdom of farangs suckers!!. LMAO.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Fuck U!
U!
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
กระจอกว่ะพวกมรึง …
กระจอกว่ะพวกมรึง ไอ้อ่อน
ไปตายซะให้หมด
ควยทั้งหมด
hello and u mom
haha
very funny
from u dad
Kingdom of THAILAND
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
O.K. (:
O.K. (:
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
What a shrine of …
What a shrine of the Great Hindu God Vishnu!!!!
may the great God Bless Cambodia and the world!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
YEAH white s …
YEAH white s aknowledge TAmil civillisation to Khermas. yes just like all other races who get credit for TAmil greatness. he he so called Kong fu comes from TAmil martial arts and so does Mauy Thai(Tamil kick boxing). yes the white man claims the british s discovered Australia even though a Tamil bell was discovered in New Zealand.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Awesome dude. Us …
Awesome dude. Us Khmer are lucky to have a civilization so astonishing that even eurocentrist people acknowledges it.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
thanks very much …
thanks very much AhmekKhmer for nice commentary in cambodia.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
abc
abc
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Very interesting, a …
Very interesting, a jewel in the spirit of art
and beauty, mystery. thanks
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
thank you. cool.
thank you. cool.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
nice job, thanks …
nice job, thanks for sharing the video
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Nice job! Thank …
Nice job! Thank you for sharing for the world to see the exquisite sites on the Khmer soil.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Great video.
Great video.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
damn tourists been …
tourists been rubbing on the apsaras tities makin them all shinny lol.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Part is 2 uploaded, …
Part is 2 uploaded, enjoy dude….
February 6th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Thank you for the …
Thank you for the video. When are you going to upload part 2?