Question One
Outline the discovery and archaeology of the site. You should include what was known about the site before its discovery, how it was found and the findings of the archaeologists. You must include at least 5 pictures and/or diagrams that are incorporated in your answer.
Angkor Wat has captured the minds and imaginations of many around the world with its magnificent structure and serene atmosphere. The majestic and beautiful temples are much admired and seeped in religious, along with political and social history. Angkor Wat is a source of pride and love for the people of Cambodia and features on their national flag. The city of Angkor and the temple of Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s number one tourist attraction. The treasures, mysteries and history that surround the city of Angkor and the temple of Angkor Wat are what make it one of the most intriguing winders of today’s world. In the following essay I will explore the temple of Angkor Wat and its history.
Scholars believe the Angkorean period of Cambodia’s history lasted from 802 – 1432. It was during this time that the city of Angkor was founded and subsequently the temple of Angkor Wat built.
The temple is believed to have been built in the early years of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. It was not built so much for himself, yet to show his devotion for one of the Hindu God’s, Vishnu. This devotion led Suryavarman II to commission the largest and the most beautiful temple of all the monuments built at Angkor Wat. The building began at the start of Suryavarman’s reign (1113), yet was not completed until after his death (believed to be around the year 1150).
Before the temple’s rediscovery in 1860 by the French explorer Henri Mouhot, there were many rumours and legends surrounding the city, as it was abandoned in 1432 and forgotten for many centuries.