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Ta Prohm
Temple |
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Rajavihara |
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Cambodia Highlight: |
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Date:
1186 A.D.
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Reign of
construction: Jayavarman VII (1181-1218)
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Cult:
Buddhist temple
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Art Style:
Bayon
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Clearance
work: G. Commaille 1908-1911)
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Ta Prohm |
The
outside enclosure of the temple consists of a large laterite wall
about 1000m long by 700m wide with four entrances on the every axis.
The central block is about 400m from the east or west entrance and
is among the largest of the monument in the Angkor Complex. The
inscription gives an idea of the size of the temple. The complex
include 260 statues or idols, 39 towers with pinnacles and 566
groups of residences.
It was dedicated in
1186 to shelter the image of the queen mother in the likeness of
Prajnaparamita "the perfection of wisdom" and 260 other images
including the master or spiritual father of the king. The great
stele gives us much information about the number of personnel in the
temple, its property and all supplies needed for the cult. The stele
says that the temple owned:
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3,140 villages
with 79,365 taxpayers
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Ta Prohm
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12,640 people
live in the wall of the temple
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18 great
priests
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2,740
officiates
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2,202
assistants
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615 dancers
The
Property:
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A set of
golden dishes weighing more than 5,000kg
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A set of
silver dishes weighing more than 5,000kg
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35 diamonds
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40,620 pearls
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4,540precious
stones
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An enormous
golden bowl
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876 veils from
China
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512 silk beds
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523 parasols.
The list of
supplies needed for daily offerings: rice, butter, milk, molasses, oil,
seeds.
The amount
needed for special feasts and list of goods furnished each year by the Royal
treasury: seeds, milk, honey, oil, wax sandal, camphor, 2,387 sets of
clothing to adorn the statues.
The
inscription ends: "Doing these good deeds, the king with extreme devotion to
his mother, made this prayer: that because of the virtue of the good deeds I
have accomplished, my mother, once delivered from the ocean of
transmigration, may enjoy the state of Buddha".
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Ta Prohm |
The mystery
of the jungle mingle with the mystery of the ancient galleries and halls.
The lack of care in construction particularly at the end of the 12th century
is one of the causes of the ruined state of the monuments. The chaotic
condition of some of them, has sometimes been attributed to a systematic
destruction, the consequences of a total war perhaps. The motive was pure
vandalism or religious fanaticism that is the search under the pedestals and
around the bases of the towers for treasury-- included some gold-leaf and
some gems. The reach these relies, treasure-hunters did not hesitate to
knock over the statue, break the pedestal set fire when necessary, dig holes
in the bases and split open the stones to get out the T-irons.
Other
causes were natural forces which operated silently but all the same
effectively. In tropical countries where the climate is wet, an abandoned
building laid open to the rain and termites, is promptly overgrown with
vegetation and is destined to speedy destruction.
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A most memorable and
comprehensive week´s tour for
our 2 families (a party of 10
made up of 4 adults and 6
energetic children aged between
6 years old and 14 years old, so
it wasn´t easy by any means!)
One family flew in from
Singapore and the other from
Japan, and on different days as
well, but Vivath in his
"laid-back" manner organised
things so well, it went
swimmingly. The hotel was
friendly and comfortable, food
delicious, tour itinerary
marvellous, Vivath (and San the
driver, a super and steady
driver at that) greeting us each
morning with smiles on their
faces inspite of a couple of wet
days.........cultural education
with great fun, we thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves! Highly
recommended, and absolutely
great value-for-money using
locals, which we totally approve
of!
― GIBB
Family, n/a, England/Spain ― 9/24/2006
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