#Khmer Empire

[mapsontheweb]

The Khmer Empire around 900 AD

[memories-of-ancients]

Gold and crystal cabochon ring, Khmer (Cambodia), 8th-11th century AD

from Sotheby's

[muni-muniments]

In the Presence of Buddhas

In the presence of an assembly of Buddhas: some lacquered in black, or painted red, some shrouded in a layer of gold leaf - others a combination of all. Evident is the inevitable patina of time on their surface. I wonder, though, about their display - the interiors of Buddhist temples comes to mind where all Buddhas (should) face East. At the same time (and this might be my ignorance betraying me) there is something quite unsettling when taking in their sight.

These standing Buddhas wear a monastic robe with other elements on their garb indicating attributes of an Angkor, Khmer style (1). Most display the gesture of the abhaya mudra ("dispelling fear") where both forearms are outstretched and palms faced in the open - a sign of reassurance, a signal of peace. In attempt to maintain this peace, I walk slowly toward them, ogling at their hands from a respectful distance and closing in on the details on their palms. Energies exude from their hands through circular ripples or lotuses adorned with a reflective surface at its centre. Quite a phantasmal encounter.

National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. July 21, 2024

References

(1) National Museum of Cambodia, Standing Adorned Buddha, <https://www.cambodiamuseum.info/en_collection/bronze_object/standing_adorned_buddha.html>

[viagginterstellari]

Bayon Temple - Angkor, 2015

[panicinthestudio]

Further reading:

Hyperallergic: Looted 10th-century Cambodian Statue Is Going Home, July 22, 2021

Hyperallergic: Art Dealer Used Offshore Accounts to Trade Looted Antiquities, Pandora Papers Say, October4, 2021

Hyperallergic: After Pandora Papers Revelations, Denver Art Museum Will Restitute Four Looted Artifacts to Cambodia, October 18, 2021

Hyperallergic: US Returns 30 Artifacts Stolen From Cambodia, August 10, 2022

Hyperallergic: Opinion: Cambodia’s Stolen Treasures Must Be Returned to Where They Belong, September 6, 2022

[tamilakam]

"In the year of the Rabbit, the second year of the reign of King Suryavarman, he sent an embassy to the king of the country of Chola, Rajendra Chola, requesting his help to put down a rebellion in the country. The king of Chola sent his son with an army to help the king of Cambodia, and the rebellion was put down."

Cambodian Chronicles

[z0mbiechylde]

[dlyarchitecture]

[kimberleyclelandtravels]

(via Preah Khan Temple Angkor Complex Siem Reap Cambodia)

[mirrorlessronin]

The Central Market/Phenom Penh, Cambodia

[clairehtownsend]

The Khmer Empire's Healthcare Legacy: Unveiling Ancient Healing Wisdom at Banteay Srey Spa in Cambodia

In Cambodia I decided to actively support business’ that supported the local economy (there’s a lot of Chinese companies that just take money out of the country.) There was genocide in Cambodia in the 1970s in which around 2 million of people died and the repercussions are still felt today. There are not many people I met over 40- even in the big cities. I found a company, Banteay Srey Spa, ran…

[sheltiechicago]

alesmartan

Ancient Capital of Cambodia: Oudong

Also known as the Capital of the Past Kings, the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong, is a worthy World Heritage Site with a long history. The city was the capital of the Cambodian Kingdom for more than 200 years. Until the 15th century, Cambodia was a part of the Khmer Empire and Angkor was their capital. However, as the French took control of the country when the Khmer fell from power, Cambodia entered its dark ages and the capital became Oudong. Very little information about those times was ever recorded; however, the ancient capital is one of the most culturally important and visually impressive relics of the post-Angkorian era.

Mikerocksnz

[a-modernmajorgeneral]

A royal temple like Banteay Chhmar was built for performing rituals and to honor images of gods, Buddhas, and other sacred or enlightened beings for the sake of the kingdom’s protection and ongoing prosperity. Conch shells were blown at the start of rituals to make the sound corresponding to the syllable om.

The dancing figure of Hevajra, a Buddhist being of enlightenment with eight heads, sixteen arms, and four legs, has been worked into the bronze embellishment of the shell. Hevajra was elevated to a prominent position in Khmer Buddhism of the Angkorian period as the standard figure denoting the practice of rituals prescribed in a text called the Hevajra-tantra. The tripod stand with three serpents is probably not original to the shell.

Bronze mounted conch shell with depiction of Hevajra, Khmer (Cambodia), 12th-13th century

from The Cleveland Museum of Art

[coloradomartini]

Looted treasures of Cambodia in this Denver Museum

This story is about one of the greatest art heists in history and how several pieces ended up in a local Denver museum.

This story is about one of the greatest art heists in history and how several pieces ended up in a local Denver museum. Precious artifacts from Cambodia’s rich history were either looted or destroyed. Those looted were sold on the black market or through what was thought to be legitimate antiquity dealers. Read More Cambodian officials are trying their hardest to restore Cambodia’s cultural…

[nickysfacts]

The Angkor Wat is easily one of the grandest works of art ever created, truly a wonder of the world!

🕉️🇰🇭☸️

[valsedelesruines]

“Details matter, from the specific moment when an inscription was completed, associated with the specific intentions of an individual in the larger socio-political context in which they worked; through the schedules of daily routes and walking distances to collect water; the timing of 5–6-km travel distances to and from markets and workplaces; the fortnightly shifts of thousands of people across Angkor with the waxing and waning of the moon; up to the slow incessant movement of water through the canal networks. Angkor’s space and time were structured and organised at different magnitudes”

- Prologue from The Angkorian World