About Devata.org - Angkor Wat Apsara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine ContextAngkor Wat Apsara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context

About Devata.org - Angkor Wat Apsara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine ContextAngkor Wat Apsara & Devata: Khmer Women in Divine Context: "In the 12th Century AD, the Khmer Empire ruled most of what is now Southeast Asia. As Europe struggled in the Dark Ages, King Suryavarman II built the massive edifice of Angkor Wat at the height of his empire’s glory.


Cruciform Gallery devata at Angkor Wat
But within 200 years, the powerful Khmer civilization mysteriously collapsed. Theories about the cause of its downfall abound but nothing is definite. You see, aside from limited temple inscriptions no written records of the great Khmer Empire survived its demise. The “best” written account available is from the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan, who recorded his journey to Suvannabhum — the legendary Khmer “Land of Gold” — 150 years after Angkor Wat was completed."

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