These are dancing devatas. They are royal court dancers. Interestingly, the Khmer culture is the birth place of the type of royal dancing that is represented in Thailand. There are several Thai cultural traits that originated in Cambodia, but you'll never hear a Thai say that. In the 1400s the Thais sacked Cambodia and stole away with its artisans, dancers, and warriors. Thai boxing = really Cambodian boxing. Thai food = Khmer food drowned in chili paste. Thai dancing = Khmer royal dances. Same with the silk weaving, wood carving.....
What used to be a blog about experiencing the places and cultures of the world has morphed into one of living in my adopted home of Wyoming.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Ankor Wat is a Mountain Temple dedicated to Shiva. It was created by, in one report, Suryavarman in the 12th century (yes, 1100's), though I have seen other literature indicate Jayavarman as its ruler...perhaps it was built prior to Jayavarman taking over? Needs more research. At any rate, the temple is a Hindu temple and was built as a royal tomb, so it is one of only a few that face west. Interestingly, when the region later became predominately buddhist, no real destruction was laid to the existing temples. But later when it returned to Hindu rule, the destruction of Buddhist iconography was rampant among the temples built by Buddhists during that period.
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