Editing Angkor (section)

=== Construction of Angkor Wat ===
{{Further |Angkor Wat}}
[[File:Suryavarman II Angkor Wat 0869.jpg|thumb|right|Suryavarman II]]
The single largest temple of the Angkorian region, [[Angkor Wat]], was built between 1113 and 1150 by King [[Suryavarman II]]. Suryavarman ascended to the throne after prevailing in a battle with a rival prince. An inscription says that, in the course of combat, Suryavarman leapt onto his rival's war elephant and killed him, just as the mythical bird-man [[Garuda]] slays a serpent.{{sfn|Higham|2001|p=112 ff}}{{sfn|Chandler|1992|p=49}}

After consolidating his political position through military campaigns, diplomacy, and a firm domestic administration, Suryavarman launched into the construction of Angkor Wat as his personal temple mausoleum. Breaking with the tradition of the Khmer kings, and influenced perhaps by the concurrent rise of [[Vaisnavism]] in India, he dedicated the temple to [[Vishnu]] rather than to [[Shiva|Siva]]. With walls nearly half a mile long on each side, Angkor Wat grandly portrays the [[Hindu]] cosmology, with the central towers representing [[Mount Meru]], home of the gods; the outer walls, the mountains enclosing the world; and the moat, the oceans beyond.{{sfn|Chandler|1992|p=50 f}}

The traditional theme of identifying the Khmer devaraja with the gods, and his residence with that of the celestials, is very much in evidence. The measurements themselves of the temple and its parts in relation to one another have cosmological significance.{{sfn|Chandler|1992|p=50 f}} Suryavarman had the walls of the temple decorated with [[bas relief]]s depicting not only scenes from mythology, but also from the life of his own imperial court. In one of the scenes, the king himself is portrayed as larger in size than his subjects, sitting cross-legged on an elevated throne and holding court, while a bevy of attendants make him comfortable with the aid of parasols and fans.

{{wide image|Angkor Wat reflejado en un estanque 07.jpg|1000px|alt=Panorama of Angkor Wat|The main temple reflected in the northern reflection pond. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.}}