Cambodian Hindu/Buddhist Religious Building: "Angkor Wat"

Cambodian Hindu/Buddhist Religious Building: "Angkor Wat"

Collection: Spiritual Connections

Object Category: Religious Items
Object Type: Religious Art

Country: Cambodia
Continent: Asia
Geographic Region: Southeastern Asia
Materials: Clay, Wood
width: 5 in; height: 6 in; depth: 5 in

This decorative plate is a depiction of the Hindu, later Buddhist, complex and temple called Angkor Wat. The temple was built in the early 1100s by the Hindu Khmer king at the time, who used it as his state temple.

The five towers are called temple mountains; they are meant to be a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu gods. The central sanctuary was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.

Angkor Wat is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists because the temple played a role in the conversion of the Cambodians into Buddhists. In the late 1100s, a new king built a new temple near to Angkor Wat dedicated to Buddhism. The king believed that the Hindu gods had failed him. Under his influence, Angkor Wat was converted to Buddhism. The Hindu art that was not part of the buildings' structure were replaced with Buddhist art.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat