Prambanan is a ninth-century Hindu temple compound near Yogyakarta on the island of Java, dedicated to the three main gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It was built during the period of the Mataram kingdom, and the tall central temple of Shiva rises to about 47 metres, surrounded by smaller shrines. Carved reliefs along the walls illustrate episodes of the Ramayana epic. The site was abandoned in the following centuries, probably after the centre of power moved eastward and a volcanic eruption, and was damaged by earthquakes. It was restored in the twentieth century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the largest Hindu temple compounds in Southeast Asia.
Before and after
- c. 847 CEEruption of Churchill
- 848 CEConstruction of Great Mosque of Samarra
- 849 CEBirth of Alfred the Great
- 850 CEOrigins of Chan Chan
- 850 CEConstruction of Prambanan Temple
- 850 CEDeath of Muḥammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi
- from c. 850s to 950sThe Classic Maya collapse
- c. 850sGunpowder is invented in China
- 859 CEFounding of University of al-Qarawiyyin
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- 1193Origins of Chernobyl
- 1373Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa
The era
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.