ART | Khmer Arquitecture and Art

                                 

    Regarding any study concerning pre-Angkor architecture and art, the emphasis is mainly on the religious forum, since all Angkor buildings that have survived to the present day are religious in nature. During this period, only temples and other religious buildings were built in stone. Non-religious buildings were constructed with materials such as wood, and therefore, many have not survived to the present day.

    Many temples were built before Cambodia became the powerful Khmer empire that dominated most of Indochina. At the time, Cambodia was simply known as the kingdom of Zhenla.50

There are three pre-Angkor architectural styles, these are 51:

Sambor Prei kuk (610-650)

•     Rounded temples with small, simple slender columns.

Prei Khmeng (635-700)

•     reveal works of art in sculpture, but scarce in architecture. 
•     The columns are wider than those of the previous style. 
•     The buildings contained more decoration.

Kompong Preah (700-800)

•     Temples with more decorative rings in columns that remain cylindrical. Brick constructions gained continuity.

    The dominant scheme for the construction of temples in the period mentioned was that of “Mountain Temples”, an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the residence of the gods of Hinduism.52

    In this sense, we are interested in highlighting the example of Vat Phou, as it is here that we will find the stele Devanika53 which enabled researchers to have official information regarding the work we intend to analyze.

                                                                 Vat Phou

In the 5th century, the province of Champasak was seen as the center of Laos, with the presence of the Vat Phou temple in this region. Although, at first glance, it is not associated with the image of a structure that started an empire, because it fails in the splendor of other Angkor temples located in Cambodia, its symbolic and religious wealth is in an honorable, extraordinary mention. Many researchers believe it is the first Angkor temple to be built, which places it at the center of inspiration and origin for the creation of other temples of splendor and higher dimensions, such as the aforementioned Angkor Wat54 for example.55

Originally planned by its occupants of Khmer origin around the 5th-6th century AD as a material representation of its symbolic universe, the construction extends for about 400 km adjacent to the Phou Kao mountain and the Mekong river. In this sense, the old city (now identified as the historic Shrestrapura) is also of exemplary archaeological importance for understanding the principles of urbanism in the region. It was clearly an important city, but its great historical significance comes down to its incorporation into the Khmer empire during the Angkor period. It was probably the capital city of Zhenla, as evidenced by the inscription on the steleDevanika. As such, its importance arises from the combination of culture and the birthplace of the state that dominated most of Southeast Asia for several centuries.56

If we compare the remains of the Khmer culture found in Laos with those found in Cambodia, particularly in the Angkor area, in terms of the richness of preservation and decoration, there is no doubt that Cambodia's are more impressive and integral. In a broader context, however, the temple complex at Vat Phou is on par with the most important Khmer sites found outside modern Cambodia in terms of planning, decoration and preservation. In its own terms, Vat Phou is of great importance as the best-preserved example of a linear presentation of temples, although far from showing itself intact.57

47 One of the 28 states in India. Located at the southern end of the Indian subcontinent. source: AIYAPPAN, Ayinipalli,“Tamil Nadu” in Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc, (2019) available in: </ https://www.britannica.com/place/Tamil-Nadu/> 
48 Indian dynasty existing between 275 AD to 897 AD, which ruled a portion of southern India. It had gained importance after the end of the Satavahana dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudarians. source: LAL GUPTA, Parameshwari, “The Journal of The Numismatic Society of India “, Vol 51, pp.109.
49 SARAN, Shyam, “Cultural and Civisational Links Between india and Southeast Asia: Historical and Contemporary Dimensions”, Springer, pp. 263, (2018).
50 FREEMAN, Michael, JACQUES, Claude, “Ancient Angkor guide book”, p. 30, (2003).
51 FREEMAN, Michael, JACQUES, Claude, “Ancient Angkor guide book”, pp. 32-34, (2003).
52 GLAIZE, Maurice, “A guide to the Angkor Monuments”, (1944)
53 The Devanika stele, found in what was then the center of the ancient city Shrestrapura, contains one of the oldest inscriptions in Southeast Asia providing key information for archaeologists trying to reconstruct the history of Zhenla and the rise of the Khmer empire. This stele was dated to the 5th century. Source: UNESCO, “WHC Nomination Documentation”, 2000. available in </ http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/481.pdf/>
54 Temple complex in Cambodia considered the largest religious monument in the world, occupying an area of ​​162.6 hectares. Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, it gradually became a Buddhist temple near the end of the 12th century. Source: RICHTER, Ashley M. “Recycling monuments: The Hinduism/Buddhism Switch at Angkor”, CyArk, (2015). available in: </ https://www.cyark.org/news/recycling- monuments-the-hinduismbuddhism-switch-at-angkor/> 
55http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/481.pdf/> 
available in </UNESCO, “WHC Nomination Documentation”, 2000.
56http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/481.pdf/> 
UNESCO, “WHC Nomination Documentation”, 2000.
57 http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/481.pdf/>