Angkor, the temple of Angkor Wat, and the city of Angkor Thom –

maya v.

Content Area: 8

Title/Designation: Angkor, the temple of

Angkor Wat, and the city of Angkor Thom

Artist/Culture: Hindu, Angkor Dynasty

Medium: Stone masonry, sandstone

Creation Date: c.800-1400 CE

Creator’s Origin/Location: Cambodia

Snapshot:

> Form> Function> Content> Context (included information about the original and subsequent historical and cultural milieu, location of the work, display, life of the artist, and movement, when appropriate)> Tradition/change> Interpretation (include different interpretations when appropriate)> Artistic intent; audience response

> (form) very very large temple made of stone, intricate carving and detail on

literally everything, unfinished, mix of temple mountain and concentric gallery plan,

contains many reliefs such as Churning of the Ocean of Milk, reliefs of celestial maidens

throughout, moat surrounds entire complex, central sanctuary marked by five stone

towers that mimic the mythical home of the gods (Mt. Meru), organized as a mandala

(diagram of the universe)

> (function) dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu and potentially a mausoleum for the

main patron, King Suryavarman II, not necessarily for prayer but a home for the god in

question, considered an axis that connects heaven and earth, present day now used for

Buddhist purposes and worship

> (content) relief Churning of the Ocean of Milk is a story about the beginning of

time and creation of the universe, along with the triumph of good over evil, Vishnu is in

the center (shows purpose of entire temple), religious celestial maiden reliefs,

construction akin to a mandala aka diagram of the universe

> (context) no original name given to temple and no texts or inscriptions about it,

name literally means “city temple,” the largest religious monument in the world, took

around 30-40 years to build, took 300,000 workers, sort of copies Mt Meru with the five

stone towers in the center, damaged by plant overgrowth, fungi, war, theft, and ground

movements

> (tradition/change) now a major symbol for Cambodia, a silhouette of Angkor Wat

is on the Cambodian flag, later changed into a Buddhist temple but maintains the same

level of importance

> (interpretation) pretty clear cut, originally a Hindu temple to Vishnu and later

becomes a Buddhist temple, super important to cambodia nonetheless

> (intent, response) a house for the gods, revered by Buddhists and Cambodians

alike, probably Hindi people too

Possible Themes:

rememberance, religion/spirituality

Possible Subthemes:

history, hindu culture

Possible Connections with Other Works in the Image Set:

Shiva as lord of dance, lakshmana temple (hindu religion)

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/southeast-asia/mainland-se-asia/a/angkor-wat

https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/asian-art-museum/southeast-asia1/Cambodia-

Myanmar/v/angkor-temple-mountains