Angkor – the famous ancient temple complex in Cambodia – was built by the Khmer Empire, one of the largest and most powerful civilizations in medieval Southeast Asia.
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| Photo image Abdalla Adil |
Who built Angkor? King Jayavarman II (reigned c. 802–850), Considered the founder of the Khmer Empire and laid the foundation for the construction of Angkor.
He declared himself “Devaraja” or god-king, uniting politics and religion, The capital was initially located at Mahendraparvata (on Phnom Kulen mountain), then moved to Angkor.
Of course! Below is the history of the Angkor Empire told in the style of “Khmer legend”, blending epic, mythological and spiritual colors as the ancient Khmer people have passed down through generations.
Angkor Legend – The Kingdom Between Heaven and Earth
In the beginning, when the sun still rose with the Naga dragon on the sea of milk, and the full moon reflected the gods flying above Mount Meru, a prophecy was engraved on the gate of heaven:
“A glorious empire will rise from the land of Khmer, shaking the human world and remembered by the gods.”
The sacred marriage between gods and humans
The story goes that there was an Indian prince named “Kaundinya”, carrying a flaming sword given by Vishnu. One day, he sailed across the sea, to a mysterious land, where mist covered the sky and spirits guarded the gate of heaven. There, he met “Princess Naga Soma”, daughter of the dragon king – lord of the water world.
Because of their love, Soma used magic to raise the land from the water, giving Kaundinya the whole kingdom, and thus the first Khmer dynasty was born, witnessed by the gods.
The Rise of Angkor – City of the Gods
Centuries passed, and the reign of “Jayavarman II” came, a king born under auspicious omens: stormy weather without rain, thunder booming in the midst of bright sunshine. He went up to 
Kulen Mountain to perform the 'Devaraja' ceremony, proclaiming himself as the "Lord of the Gods", the representative of Shiva in the world. And from then on, Khmer became a powerful empire, with the center being the sacred land of "Angkor".
Kulen Mountain to perform the 'Devaraja' ceremony, proclaiming himself as the "Lord of the Gods", the representative of Shiva in the world. And from then on, Khmer became a powerful empire, with the center being the sacred land of "Angkor".
There, Khmer kings not only built citadels, but also built stone heavens. They built "Angkor Wat" where the earthly and heavenly worlds merged. They built dikes, led water, carved stones and painted the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata with Khmer images, so that the gods could recognize their descendants in the human world.
The Golden Age - Dance between the Dragon and the Sky
Under the reign of "Suryavarman II", the aura of Angkor shone like the sun in the eastern sky. Angkor Wat was built to honor the god Vishnu - noble and immortal. Each carved stone was a mantra to protect the kingdom.
Then came "Jayavarman VII", the king called "Great Holy King", the one who did not yield to death, the builder of the "Bayon", where the face of the god Lokesvara appeared on each tower - his compassionate eyes looked out to the four corners of the world. He also built temples, infirmaries, roads - the kingdom was like a living body with the king as its heart.
Decline in the shadow of the dragon
But every golden light fades. When the stars changed their positions, the rains stopped falling in season, and the jungle began to swallow the sacred pillars, Angkor began to recede into legend. The Siamese army from the West poured in. The water receded from the lake, the canals dried up as if the gods had abandoned their thrones.
The Khmer retreated to the South, taking with them the legends, leaving behind stone cities in the silent sacred forests. But in every branch and root that embraced the temple, in every unfaded relief, "the dream of Angkor still lives - like a sacred song of a people who have not forgotten their roots."
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| Photo image Equine Residences |
So, Angkor is not just an empire - it is "a soul", "the breath of the Khmer land and sky", a place where "men and gods once walked together", among the stone paths leading to heaven.
(For example: about the character Jayavarman VII, about Angkor Wat, or the period of decline?)
