Cambodia under the Angkor Empire - Art Explora Academy

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The Khmer Empire

The Khmer Empire at the beginning of the 10th century

In 802, the Khmer Empire was founded on the site of Angkor, a fertile plain in what is now Cambodia. So fertile that successive kings reigned there right up to the 15th century!

But the conquest of the territory by enemy armies marked the end of the Grand Era of Angkor. The site was gradually abandoned and taken over by the forest.

In a nutshell

The Khmer Empire, founded in Angkor at the beginning of the ninth century, lasted till the 15th century.

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Angkor

Angkor is not one temple, nor one city, but a 154 square mile site on which several cities have been built, including several impressive monuments!

Several capitals in succession have been built in different parts of Angkor. Each one is home to exceptional temples.

In a nutshell

The gigantic site of Angkor houses the remains of several capitals, each of which had its own temples.

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The Khmer sculpture

In Khmer territory there is not just architecture…

There are sculptures too!

For a long time, it was influenced by Indian art and many Angkor sculptures represent subjects related to Hindu mythology. This religion, which also came from India, was the Khmer king’s religion for several centuries (There’s more about this next!)

late 10th century, stoneware, 56 x 22 x 11.5 inches, National Museum of Asian Art – Guimet Museum, Paris. Photo: Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0

13th century, moulding, National Museum of Asian Art, Guimet Museum, Paris. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

late 10th century, copper alloy, 48 inches, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0

Male divinity with a horse’s head (Vajimukha), Sambor Prei Kuk,

Ramayana, scene showing Ravana, the king of demons in his chariot, bas-relief detail of the battle of Lanka, Angkor Vat,

Vishnu lying on Ananta, West Mebon, Angkor,

In a nutshell

Angkor is also famous for its sculptures, many of which were inspired by the Hindu religion.

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The main Hindu gods

This religion was born in India and has three main deities:

Head of the god Brahma,

Phnom Bock, 10 century, stoneware, National Museum of Asian Art, Guimet Museum, Paris. Photo: Rama, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bhrama

Distinctive sign: Has four heads
Profession : God of creation
Key fact : His 5th head was cut off by Shiva’s fingernail.

Head of the god Shiva,

Cambodia, late 10th century, stoneware, 13 x 8 x 6.3 inches, Confluences Museum, Lyon. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

Shiva

Distinctive Sign : Has a third eye and a crescent moon adorning his head

Profession : God of destruction

Key fact : Changed his father-in-law into a goat

Head of the god Vishnu,

Phnom Bock, Cambodia, 9th-10th century, stoneware, National Museum of Asian Art, Guimet Museum, Paris. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

Vishnu

Distinctive Sign : Wears a tiara like a sort of crown

Profession : God of preservation

Key fact: Sleeps on a giant snake

In a nutshell

Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu are the main deities in the Hindu religion.

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King Jayavarman VII

Portrait presumed to be Jayavarman VII, Cambodia,

12th-13th century, stoneware, 16 inches, Guimet Museum, Paris Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

At the beginning of the 13th century, Angkor had its last great king before the empire began to die gradually: Jayavarman VII.

Dates: 1125 – 1218
He freed Angkor from the Cham people, who had invaded it
He made Buddhism the state religion
He built the city of Angkor Thom

In a nutshell

Jayavarman VII, the last great Khmer king, made Buddhism the state religion and built the city of Angkor Thom.

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The Bayon Temple

In his new capital of Angkor Thom, Jayavarman VII had the Bayon built, a particularly impressive monument. It’s impressiveness is not surprising, since this temple has 59 towers decorated with faces!

General View of Bayon, Angkor, Cambodia, 13th century.

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Face details, Bayon, Angkor, Cambodia,

13th century. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

But what do they represent? Every theory has been put forward – heads of Buddha or Bodhisattvas, or even portraits of Jayavarman VII watching over his empire. The mystery remains unsolved.

In a nutshell

In Angkor Thom, Jayavarman VII had the impressive Bayon Temple built, with its 59 towers decorated with sculptures of faces.

In summary, you have discovered:

To go further

The Giant’s Causeway of Preah Khan in Angkor

Rijksmuseum in 60 seconds: Raden Saleh

Art History Minute: Seated Ganesha

Living with gods: Shiva lord of the dance