ANGKOR WATIts proper name is = Prasat Angkor Wat
Located in Cambodia
~Its is built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century
~ Designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the deva's in Hindu mythology
~Oriented in west
~ Centred at Baphuon. Its in area where there is an important group of ancient structure.
~ Admires for the harmony of the architecture which extensive bas-relief and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirit) of adorning its walls.
The picture above are the plan of the Angkor Wat
~ The central quincunx of the tower represent - 5 peaks of the mountain
and the wall and moat the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean.
~ The upper level of the temple are encouraging as an exclusive with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level
~Oriented to west because - to conclude that Suryavarman intended it to serve as his funery temple.
~ The main building material are - SANDSTONE
~ Laterite was used for the outer wall and for the hidden structural parts
Elements Characteristics
~the ogival -redented towers shaped like lotus buds
~half galleries to broaden passageways
~axial galleries connecting enclosures
~the cruciform terraces which appear along the main axis of the temple.
Typical Decorative Elements
~~devatas, bas-reliefs , and on pediments extensive garlands and narrative scene
Techniques of Construction
~ The material stone is used to laid down without mortar to join but replace it with a very tight joints that were sometimes hard to find
~The blocks material are put in a place in a composition of elephants, coir ropes, pulleys and bamboo scaffolding
~ Virtually, all of its surfaces, columns, lintels and even their roofs are carved
~ There are miles of their relief illustrated frim the Indian Literature that include;
*unicorns
*griffins
*winged dragon pulling chariots as well as warriors following an elephant mounted leader
*celestial dancing girls with elaborate hair styles
