Civilizations & archaeology

Construction of Angkor Wat

802 CE

Angkor Wat is a vast temple complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, built in the early twelfth century by the Khmer king Suryavarman II as a state temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The date shown here marks the traditional foundation of the Khmer kingdom by Jayavarman II, from which the royal tradition at Angkor arose. The temple is laid out as a model of the cosmos, with five central towers representing Mount Meru, surrounded by a moat and galleries with miles of carved relief scenes from Hindu epics. It later became a Buddhist site, and it was never entirely abandoned, even after the Khmer capital moved away. It is the largest religious monument in the world and appears on Cambodia's flag.

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This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 9th century.