Angkor Wat

Ankor Wat is the majestic work of Suryavarman II (1113-c. 1150). A moat and three galleries encircle the five central shrines. From the west one approaches the first outer gallery over a long bridge over the moat (see picture 1, below). The first gallery has square pillars on the outer side and a closed wall on the inner side (see picture 2, below). The ceiling between the pillars is decorated with lotus rosettes (see picture 3, below); the closed wall is decorated with dancing figures (see picture 4, below). On the outside the inner wall is decorated with pillared windows, apsaras (hea- venly nymphs), and dancing male figures on prancing animals (see picture 5, below). Apsaras are found on the walls of all galleries (see picture 6, below). From the first gallery a long avenue leads to the second gallery (see picture 7, below). This is reached via a raised plat- form with lions on both sides of a staircase (see picture 8, below). The inner walls of the second gallery contain continuous narrative relief. The western wall shows scenes from the Mahabharata epos (see picture 9, below). The third gallery encloses the five shrines which are built on a raised terrace and are interconnected by galleries (see picture 10 and 11, below). The roofings of the galleries are decorated with the motif of the body of a snake ending in the heads of lions or garudas (see picture 12, below). Sculptured lintels and frontons decorate the entrances to the galleries and the entrances to the shrines (see picture 13 an 14, below).

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Picture 1	Picture 2	Picture 3	Picture 4
Picture 5	Picture 6	Picture 7	Picture 8
Picture 9	Picture 10	Picture 11	Picture 12
Picture 13	Picture 14