Editing Apsara (section)

===Cambodia===
[[File:L%27apsara_colonial_stamp_1931.jpg|thumb|Apsara on a 1931 [[Postage stamps and postal history of Indochina|postage stamp of Indochina]]|left|213x213px]]
[[File:Apsara Relief Sculpture on Angkor Wat Temple Wall Feb 10 2000.jpg|alt=Apsara Relief Sculpture on Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Temple Wall|thumb|Apsara relief sculpture on [[Angkor Wat]] temple wall]]
Apsaras represent an important motif in the stone [[bas-reliefs]] of the [[Angkor]]ian temples in [[Cambodia]] (8th–13th centuries AD), however, not all female images are considered to be apsaras. In harmony with the Indian association of dance with apsaras, Khmer female figures that are dancing or are poised to dance are considered ''apsaras''; female figures, depicted individually or in groups, who are standing still and facing forward in the manner of temple guardians or custodians are called ''[[devata]]s''.<ref>Maurice Glaize, ''Monuments of the Angkor Group'', p.37.</ref>

[[Angkor Wat]], the largest Angkor temple (built in 1113–1150 AD), features both ''Apsaras'' and ''Devata'', however, the devata type are the most numerous with more than 1,796 in the present research inventory.<ref>[http://www.devata.org/2010/02/angkor-wat-devata-inventory/ Angkor Wat devata inventory - February 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423123631/http://www.devata.org/2010/02/angkor-wat-devata-inventory/ |date=23 April 2010 }}</ref> Angkor Wat architects employed small apsara images (30–40&nbsp;cm as seen below) as decorative motifs on pillars and walls. They incorporated larger devata images (all full-body portraits measuring approximately 95–110&nbsp; cm) more prominently at every level of the temple from the entry pavilion to the tops of the high towers. In 1927, Sappho Marchal published a study cataloging the remarkable diversity of their hair, headdresses, garments, stance, jewelry and decorative flowers, which Marchal concluded were based on actual practices of the Angkor period. Some devatas appear with arms around each other and seem to be greeting the viewer. "The devatas seem to epitomize all the elements of a refined elegance," wrote Marchal.<ref>Sappho Marchal, ''Khmer Costumes and Ornaments of the Devatas of Angkor Wat''.</ref>
The bas-reliefs of Angkorian temples have become an inspiration of [[Khmer classical dance]]. The indigenous ballet-like performance art of Cambodia is frequently called "[[Robam Tep Apsara|Apsara Dance]]". The dance was created by the Royal Ballet of [[Cambodia]] in the mid-20th century under the patronage of Queen [[Sisowath Kossamak]] of Cambodia. The role of the apsara is played by a woman, wearing a tight-fitting traditional dress with gilded jewelry and headdress modelled after Angkor bas-reliefs,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roughguides.com/?titleid=107&xid=idbox_head33982200_0171|title=Home|website=Rough Guides|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref> whose graceful, sinuous gestures are codified to narrate classical myths or religious stories.<ref name=dig>Di Giovine, Michael A. ''The Heritage-Scape''. 2008, pages 293–4</ref>