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Susan | profile | all galleries >> Siem Reap, Cambodia 2006 >> Angkor Wat tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Angkor Wat | Phnom Bakheng | Angkor Thom & Bayon | Bas Relief | Angkor Thom (other places of interest) | Eastern Angkor | North Eastern Angkor | East Baray | Banteay Srei | Kbal Spean | Beng Mealea | Roluos

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is, above all else, a microcosm of the Hindu universe. The moat represents the mythicaloceans surrounding the earth and the succession of concentric galleries represent the mountain ranges that surround Mount Meru, the home of the gods. The towers represent the mountain's peaks, and the experience of the ascent to the central shrine is, maybe intentionally, a fairly convincing imitation of climbing a real mountain.



g3/89/80289/3/58721927.DSC_3318.jpg g3/89/80289/3/58722094.DSC_3317.jpg the main causeway
the main causeway		 lions flank the steps down from the causeway
lions flank the steps down from the causeway
the main towers flanked by lions
the main towers flanked by lions		 the balustrades of the causeway are in the form of nagas, their bodies raised on short square columns
the balustrades of the causeway are in the form of nagas, their bodies raised on short square columns		 7-headed Naga
7-headed Naga		 the W entrance
the W entrance
stone windows commonly featured lathe-turned balusters, flanked by Apsaras
stone windows commonly featured lathe-turned balusters, flanked by Apsaras		 2nd level - a plethora of apsara - more than 1,500 celestial dancers - lining the walls
2nd level - a plethora of apsara - more than 1,500 celestial dancers - lining the walls		 Apsara - cupping the breast
Apsara - cupping the breast		 Apsara - with a mirror
Apsara - with a mirror
Apsara - holding hands
Apsara - holding hands		 eight-armed statue of Vishnu
eight-armed statue of Vishnu		 connecting corridors
connecting corridors		 the Gallery of Bas-Reliefs
the Gallery of Bas-Reliefs
'libraries' - shrines of some kind
'libraries' - shrines of some kind		 entrance gopura, with galleries extending to the left and right
entrance gopura, with galleries extending to the left and right		 the climb to the uppermost level - steping just rising 11meters
the climb to the uppermost level - steping just rising 11meters		 g3/89/80289/3/56904429.DSC_2413.jpg
g3/89/80289/3/56904430.DSC_2414.jpg view from 3rd level
view from 3rd level		 g3/89/80289/3/56949378.DSC_2421.jpg g3/89/80289/3/56949379.DSC_2422.jpg
glimpse of the connecting gallery at 3rd level
glimpse of the connecting gallery at 3rd level		 glimpse of the 2nd level galleries from upper level
glimpse of the 2nd level galleries from upper level		 beheaded statue of buddah
beheaded statue of buddah		 upper level and towers
upper level and towers
Apsaras on the face of tower
Apsaras on the face of tower		 Apsara at sunset
Apsara at sunset		 g3/89/80289/3/58270462.DSC_3388.jpg g3/89/80289/3/58270463.DSC_3391.jpg
time to go
time to go		 g3/89/80289/3/58270465.DSC_3397.jpg g3/89/80289/3/58270466.DSC_3399.jpg g3/89/80289/3/58270467.DSC_3400.jpg
g3/89/80289/3/58719441.DSC_2806.jpg .
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Vilone16-Apr-2006 14:34
Wonderful gallery!I must visit place!Thanks for sharing, Susan!
Andy Kwan08-Mar-2006 22:47
Very nice shots of this magical place!
Particularly I like the perspective of your Apsara shots.
We were also in Siem Reap between Feb. 8 - 15.

andy
http://www.pbase.com/andy_k/angkor_wat_2006
click on thumbnails for full image