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زیرنویس توسط HeyDL.site
Narrator: It's the story
of a young prince
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00:00:06,499 --> 00:00:08,916
with great ambition,
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00:00:08,917 --> 00:00:11,959
a king who took power by force.
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00:00:14,792 --> 00:00:16,833
A ruler who built his legacy
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00:00:16,834 --> 00:00:19,542
in the form of
a spectacular temple...
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towering 100 feet
above the Taj Mahal,
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and containing more stone than
the great pyramid of Giza.
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It is the largest
sacred structure
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00:00:32,750 --> 00:00:35,459
anywhere on the face
of the earth.
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00:00:36,750 --> 00:00:40,750
Cambodia's extraordinary
Angkor Wat.
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00:00:43,834 --> 00:00:47,498
Early western visitors were so
awestruck by the ancient temple,
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00:00:47,499 --> 00:00:50,291
they believed it was built
by Alexander the Great
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00:00:50,292 --> 00:00:52,708
or the ancient Romans.
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00:00:52,709 --> 00:00:55,167
Of course, they were wrong.
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00:00:56,792 --> 00:00:59,498
The builders of Angkor Wat
were the ancient Khmer,
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the great and mysterious
civilization that dominated
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00:01:02,959 --> 00:01:05,958
much of Southeast Asia
for six centuries,
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and left behind one of the
greatest architectural wonders
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ever created by human hands.
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On a lush plain,
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deep in the tropical forest
Of northwestern Cambodia,
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lie the ruins of
the ancient city of Angkor.
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Once the sprawling capital
of the vast Khmer empire,
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today, Angkor is still
a sweeping landscape--
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400 square miles
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where more than 1,200
ancient temples still survive.
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Architectural masterpieces
fantastically carved
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from tens of millions of tons
of local sandstone.
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00:02:05,899 --> 00:02:09,566
The famous temples were built
over a span of five centuries.
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They endure today as one of the
world's greatest treasure troves
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of art, archaeology and history.
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But the city of Angkor
was eventually abandoned
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as the Khmer capital,
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and its temples were swallowed
by the jungle,
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forgotten by the outside world.
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Not until the 19th century
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was the most famous of
all the angkor structures
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brought to the attention
of the west.
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In January of 1860,
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the French naturalist
Henri Mouhot wrote,
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"One of these temples,
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a rival to that of Solomon,
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and erected by some ancient
Michelangelo
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might take an honorable place
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beside our most beautiful
buildings."
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"It is grander than anything
left to us by Greece or Rome."
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He was describing the splendor
of Angkor Wat.
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When Smithsonian magazine listed
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"28 places to see
before you die,"
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it called Angkor Wat
a temple "so magnificent
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it could only have been built
by divine inspiration."
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And so it was.
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Inspired by gods,
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built by a man you've
probably never heard of,
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but whose story is one of
the world's great legends.
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Hi, my name is Yul Kwon,
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and it's my honor to take you
on a journey back in time
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to discover
the secrets of Angkor
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00:03:50,776 --> 00:03:53,024
and relive the adventures
of its creator,
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00:03:53,025 --> 00:03:55,982
a ruler called
Suryavarman II.
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00:03:55,983 --> 00:03:57,525
900 years ago,
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he led the Khmer empire
in what is today Cambodia,
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00:04:00,150 --> 00:04:03,691
and this temple is his legacy.
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More than a million people
visit here every year,
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00:04:06,025 --> 00:04:08,898
overcome by its size
and grandeur.
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00:04:08,899 --> 00:04:11,898
But if you think
this place is beautiful now,
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just wait till you see it
in its glory days.
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This is the story of Angkor Wat.
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In the 12th century A.D.,
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a young man with royal blood
was coming of age
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in the Khmer countryside.
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At that time, the Khmer empire
controlled large portions
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of modern Southeast Asia,
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00:04:37,899 --> 00:04:41,983
including the prince's home of
Lopburi, northwest of Angkor.
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The royal prince was said to be
a skilled warrior,
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brave and wise beyond his years.
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He came to the attention
of a prominent Hindu priest,
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Divakara Pandita, a religious
leader with great influence
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in matters of state.
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Ambitious, royal
and well-connected,
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Suryavarman II began
to dream of becoming king
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and ruling the vast
Khmer empire.
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Under the rule of
Dharanindravarman,
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the turn of the 12th century
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was a time of chaos and
fragmentation in the kingdom.
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His reign was marked by
power struggles and turmoil.
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The aging Dharanindravarman
was an ineffectual ruler
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who never succeeded
in bringing order
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to his sprawling territories.
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Opposing factions arose
throughout the empire.
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00:06:03,359 --> 00:06:06,483
The young prince's clan gained
influence in the north,
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while the older royal clans
were pushed south.
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Divakara Pandita and
other powerful priests
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backed the young prince,
hoping he could unify the empire
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and bring harmony to
the fractured kingdom.
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Civil war erupted as the forces
vied for control.
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An inscription
describes the moment
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the young prince took power,
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comparing him to
a mythical bird.
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"Suryavarman bounded to
the head of the elephant
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of the enemy king,
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and killed him
as an eagle might kill a snake."
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Suryavarman II
was only 17 years old
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00:06:59,899 --> 00:07:04,525
when he seized control of
the Khmer empire in 1113 A.D.
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This is him right here,
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easy to miss among the mile
of gods and spirits
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carved into Angkor's walls.
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It wasn't unusual at the time
for a rebel to become king.
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But for Suryavarman II,
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killing the former king
was only the first stage.
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He still had to conquer
the rest of an empire
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that was in utter disarray.
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The crown would only be his
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if he could end the turmoil
and unify the land.
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It took six long years
for Suryavarman II
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to solidify his control
over the vast empire
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and conquer
the southern factions.
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But now, at last, the entire
Khmer empire was united
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Suryavarman's soldiers and
subjects took an oath of loyalty
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that strengthened his realm.
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"We will serve no other king.
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We will sacrifice our lives for
our king in the face of war.
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We will be reborn in the 32
hells if we break our oath."
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In 1119, at the royal palace
of Angkor,
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Suryavarman II officially became
the 18th king
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of the Khmer empire.
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He was given the royal title
Suryavarman,
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"Protector of the sun,"
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and was coronated
alongside his queen.
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00:08:31,317 --> 00:08:35,025
This moment ushered in the
golden age of the Khmer empire.
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Suryavarman II
was only 23 years old
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when we was crowned ruler
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of one of the greatest empires
of Asia.
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Just as Khmer kings
had done for centuries,
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Suryavarman II
ruled from Angkor,
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the seat of the Khmer empire.
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But its soul resided
in another place.
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Traditionally,
newly crowned Khmer rulers
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would make a pilgrimage
to the sacred Phnom Kulen,
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00:09:05,192 --> 00:09:09,566
a mountain range 25 miles
northeast of Angkor.
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Three centuries before
Suryavarman II,
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00:09:12,025 --> 00:09:15,566
the empire's first monarch,
Jayavarman II,
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came to this same mountain
on a similar spiritual journey.
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Here, a sacred ritual anointed
him the first supreme ruler,
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an event that marked the
founding of the Khmer empire.
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This hallowed spot
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had deep religious and political
significance for the Khmer
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and is still considered holy
by modern Cambodians.
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This river was a source of
the ingenious water system
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that was key to the wealth and
success of the entire region.
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The religion of the early
Khmer empire was Hinduism.
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And this sacred mountain
is richly carved
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with images of Hindu deities,
including Vishnu.
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A thousand linga
rise from the riverbed.
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carved over the centuries
during the dry seasons,
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these stone phalluses are
symbols of fertility
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and the male creative force.
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00:10:29,899 --> 00:10:32,775
A corresponding female symbol
is the yoni,
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a vessel shape that represents
feminine creative energy.
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The linga is often
placed upon the yoni.
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00:10:39,899 --> 00:10:41,898
Together,
the two forms symbolize
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00:10:41,899 --> 00:10:45,898
the indivisible connection
between male and female--
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the union from which
all life springs.
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00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:52,817
Waters that washed over
these sacred stone carvings
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were thought to carry
fertility and abundance
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to the lands of the empire.
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Metaphorically,
these waters also conveyed
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00:11:00,899 --> 00:11:03,983
the power of the king
throughout his kingdom.
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00:11:05,275 --> 00:11:07,483
A king's power
was also expressed
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00:11:07,484 --> 00:11:11,898
by monumental
architectural structures.
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00:11:11,899 --> 00:11:14,066
It was customary
for a Khmer ruler
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to build one or more temples
during his reign,
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usually dedicated
to the god Vishnu.
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00:11:21,192 --> 00:11:23,608
The third Khmer king,
Indravarman,
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built this red brick temple
in 879 A.D.
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It's called Preah Ko,
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and he built it in honor
of his ancestors.
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Banteay Srei temple was built
more than a century later.
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00:11:41,067 --> 00:11:43,899
Its name means
"Citadel of beauty."
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Its famous carvings
are still considered
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00:11:47,526 --> 00:11:50,359
among the highest achievements
of Khmer art.
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The 9th century Bakong temple
with its massive moat
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may have inspired
Suryavarman II.
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00:12:03,899 --> 00:12:06,191
When it came time for
the newly crowned king
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to begin planning
for his temple,
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he decided to create a structure
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that would exceed
all other temples
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in both size and grandeur.
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He entrusted
this ambitious undertaking
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00:12:21,899 --> 00:12:26,858
to the same Brahmin priest
who helped him take the throne.
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00:12:26,859 --> 00:12:30,024
Divakara Pandita would oversee
the planning and construction
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00:12:30,025 --> 00:12:32,067
of Angkor Wat.
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00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:39,817
Within the city of Angkor,
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00:12:39,818 --> 00:12:42,898
Suryavarman's temple would
follow the customary structure
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00:12:42,899 --> 00:12:44,899
of other khmer shrines.
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00:12:46,150 --> 00:12:49,441
Khmer temples represent
the mythical mount Meru,
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00:12:49,442 --> 00:12:52,316
the center of the universe
and home of the gods,
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00:12:52,317 --> 00:12:54,317
According to Hindu cosmology.
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00:12:57,692 --> 00:12:59,316
But the temple
Suryavarman planned
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00:12:59,317 --> 00:13:02,733
was on a scale that would
dwarf all other temples
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00:13:02,734 --> 00:13:04,526
anywhere in the world.
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00:13:05,899 --> 00:13:08,898
A scale that would tax
every ounce of skill,
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00:13:08,899 --> 00:13:12,899
ingenuity and technology
of his entire empire.
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00:13:16,067 --> 00:13:17,525
Think about this--
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00:13:17,526 --> 00:13:19,898
In medieval Europe at
around the same time,
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00:13:19,899 --> 00:13:23,898
people were building cathedrals
that took centuries to complete.
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00:13:23,899 --> 00:13:25,691
Meanwhile, here in Asia,
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00:13:25,692 --> 00:13:28,400
the builders of Angkor Wat
somehow created a temple
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00:13:28,401 --> 00:13:29,898
that was far larger,
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00:13:29,899 --> 00:13:31,898
and in some ways
more complicated,
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00:13:31,899 --> 00:13:34,024
in less than four decades.
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00:13:34,025 --> 00:13:35,898
So how did they do it?
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00:13:35,899 --> 00:13:38,233
Well, archaeologists and
engineers have been trying
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00:13:38,234 --> 00:13:40,525
to solve the mysteries of
Angkor Wat's construction
215
00:13:40,526 --> 00:13:42,316
since the 19th century.
216
00:13:42,317 --> 00:13:44,274
And they've managed
to uncover some,
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00:13:44,275 --> 00:13:46,817
but not all of its secrets.
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00:13:46,818 --> 00:13:49,483
It was around the year 1120 A.D.
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00:13:49,484 --> 00:13:51,441
when an army of
construction workers took on
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00:13:51,442 --> 00:13:54,608
what must have seemed like
mission impossible.
221
00:13:54,609 --> 00:13:56,441
On a swampy forest plain,
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00:13:56,442 --> 00:13:58,898
they would build
the largest sacred structure
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00:13:58,899 --> 00:14:00,734
in the known world.
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00:14:13,067 --> 00:14:16,898
Using only simple tools,
workers prepare the site,
225
00:14:16,899 --> 00:14:20,692
digging the foundation in
the midst of a dense jungle.
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00:14:26,484 --> 00:14:29,566
One clue to exactly how
they prepared the foundation
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00:14:29,567 --> 00:14:32,650
was discovered in
the nearby bayon temple,
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00:14:32,651 --> 00:14:36,358
built several decades
after Angkor Wat.
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00:14:36,359 --> 00:14:39,898
In this carving,
laborers work side by side,
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00:14:39,899 --> 00:14:42,859
beating the ground
with long wooden poles.
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00:14:44,275 --> 00:14:46,358
It's believed
the relief illustrates
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00:14:46,359 --> 00:14:49,274
how the builders solved one
of the most vexing problems
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00:14:49,275 --> 00:14:51,484
of Angkor Wat's construction.
234
00:14:54,942 --> 00:14:58,898
Workers used sticks to tamp down
and compact the wet soil,
235
00:14:58,899 --> 00:15:01,859
creating a more
suitable foundation.
236
00:15:04,942 --> 00:15:08,858
They dug a massive hole
in the ground 33 feet deep,
237
00:15:08,859 --> 00:15:12,066
filled it with layers of
sand, pebbles and clay,
238
00:15:12,067 --> 00:15:15,108
and compacted it
until it was hard.
239
00:15:15,109 --> 00:15:17,191
This allowed excess water
to drain
240
00:15:17,192 --> 00:15:19,734
and also stabilized the surface.
241
00:15:21,067 --> 00:15:23,733
It was only after
the foundation was laid
242
00:15:23,734 --> 00:15:27,898
that the structure's
elaborate design was finalized.
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00:15:27,899 --> 00:15:31,274
The massive compound would be
almost a square mile,
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00:15:31,275 --> 00:15:35,651
and would be surrounded
by a moat 660 feet wide.
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00:15:39,692 --> 00:15:42,525
Only a ruler with
Suryavarman II's might,
246
00:15:42,526 --> 00:15:45,191
power and vision could have
imagined a building
247
00:15:45,192 --> 00:15:47,899
constructed on
this grand a scale.
248
00:15:49,234 --> 00:15:50,898
It is estimated
the building required
249
00:15:50,899 --> 00:15:55,898
more than five million tons
of raw materials.
250
00:15:55,899 --> 00:15:57,899
Where did the ancient
temple builders mine
251
00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:01,150
such a tremendous
amount of stone?
252
00:16:10,067 --> 00:16:11,899
Etsuo Uchida [translated]:
Gray sandstone was used
253
00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:13,858
to build Angkor Wat.
254
00:16:13,859 --> 00:16:15,858
It was quarried
from Phnom Kulen,
255
00:16:15,859 --> 00:16:19,651
A mountain over 24 miles
northeast of the site.
256
00:16:22,842 --> 00:16:25,008
Kwon: The sacred mountain
of Phnom Kulen proved
257
00:16:25,009 --> 00:16:29,298
a great resource for
the builders of Angkor Wat.
258
00:16:29,299 --> 00:16:30,466
The mountain's base is
259
00:16:30,467 --> 00:16:34,217
a massive, 22-mile-long
belt of sandstone,
260
00:16:34,218 --> 00:16:37,342
a plentiful source of
high quality building material.
261
00:16:39,299 --> 00:16:42,884
But how did the ancient workers
excavate all that rock?
262
00:16:46,967 --> 00:16:49,299
Uchida: They used iron rods
with sharp ends
263
00:16:49,300 --> 00:16:54,424
and dug a groove the size of
the block they wanted to remove.
264
00:16:54,425 --> 00:16:58,091
Then, they would place a wedge
between the sedimentary layers
265
00:16:58,092 --> 00:17:02,133
where it's easy
to break the rock.
266
00:17:02,134 --> 00:17:05,050
Or in some cases,
several men worked together,
267
00:17:05,051 --> 00:17:06,591
pounding the rock
and breaking it
268
00:17:06,592 --> 00:17:09,009
in order to pry it loose.
269
00:17:14,342 --> 00:17:15,966
Kwon: With only hand tools,
270
00:17:15,967 --> 00:17:19,425
workers removed vast amounts
of rock from the mountain.
271
00:17:22,299 --> 00:17:26,217
It is estimated that it took
a stone cutter at least 10 days
272
00:17:26,218 --> 00:17:28,758
Just to carve a groove
around one block of stone
273
00:17:28,759 --> 00:17:31,298
Weighing more than a ton.
274
00:17:31,299 --> 00:17:34,382
After the groove was carved,
a wedge was placed in the groove
275
00:17:34,383 --> 00:17:36,967
So the rock could be separated.
276
00:17:40,300 --> 00:17:42,258
It took a workforce of thousands
277
00:17:42,259 --> 00:17:46,051
to cut just a few hundred
blocks of stone each day.
278
00:17:48,884 --> 00:17:52,883
More than 600,000 high quality
sandstone blocks were used
279
00:17:52,884 --> 00:17:55,549
in the construction
of Angkor Wat--
280
00:17:55,550 --> 00:17:59,092
five million tons of sandstone.
281
00:18:01,467 --> 00:18:03,883
Because the builders
used no mortar,
282
00:18:03,884 --> 00:18:08,717
Blocks had to be precisely cut
with utterly smooth surfaces.
283
00:18:12,009 --> 00:18:14,217
Olivier Cunin [translated]:
A system lifted a stone block
284
00:18:14,218 --> 00:18:16,591
just slightly
above another stone,
285
00:18:16,592 --> 00:18:19,298
and then workers pushed it
back and forth
286
00:18:19,299 --> 00:18:25,008
in order to grind the two
surfaces and make it smooth.
287
00:18:25,009 --> 00:18:26,758
Kwon: Another relief
in Bayon temple
288
00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:30,424
has a detailed depiction
of how this method worked.
289
00:18:30,425 --> 00:18:32,298
Workers used poles and ropes
290
00:18:32,299 --> 00:18:35,298
to lift one stone
just above another,
291
00:18:35,299 --> 00:18:37,800
then the top stone was
rubbed back and forth
292
00:18:37,801 --> 00:18:40,050
against the stone below.
293
00:18:40,051 --> 00:18:42,175
After thousands of repetitions,
294
00:18:42,176 --> 00:18:44,842
the block obtained
a smooth surface.
295
00:18:50,218 --> 00:18:53,298
Exactly which Phnom Kulen quarry
the stones came from
296
00:18:53,299 --> 00:18:55,009
remains a mystery.
297
00:18:56,425 --> 00:18:59,341
But a Japanese research team
from Waseda University
298
00:18:59,342 --> 00:19:03,424
recently tested the stone's
magnetic properties.
299
00:19:03,425 --> 00:19:06,133
Their findings reveal
each stone's approximate age
300
00:19:06,134 --> 00:19:09,298
and geological distribution.
301
00:19:09,299 --> 00:19:12,466
But matching the stones back
to a particular place or quarry
302
00:19:12,467 --> 00:19:16,967
in this mountainous belt
is not simple or safe.
303
00:19:19,299 --> 00:19:20,966
Uchida: Magnetic susceptibility
304
00:19:20,967 --> 00:19:24,633
is the inclination of rock
to be drawn to a magnet.
305
00:19:24,634 --> 00:19:26,298
By measuring this,
306
00:19:26,299 --> 00:19:28,298
we can tell that they used
seven different quarries
307
00:19:28,299 --> 00:19:30,925
during the various
different ages.
308
00:19:30,926 --> 00:19:33,758
Unfortunately, it's impossible
to conduct research
309
00:19:33,759 --> 00:19:37,299
to find the exact location of
the quarries in Phnom Kulen,
310
00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:41,050
because the place is
littered with mines.
311
00:19:41,051 --> 00:19:42,298
But according to research
312
00:19:42,299 --> 00:19:44,716
conducted by the French School
of the Far East,
313
00:19:44,717 --> 00:19:47,634
there were numerous quarries
at Phnom Kulen.
314
00:19:50,299 --> 00:19:53,758
Kwon:
Landmines left from Cambodia's
20th century civil war
315
00:19:53,759 --> 00:19:57,926
still litter the countryside,
making research dangerous.
316
00:20:00,801 --> 00:20:04,008
Although the exact quarry
locations are unknown,
317
00:20:04,009 --> 00:20:08,298
testing reveals that stone used
in 30 Angkor area temples
318
00:20:08,299 --> 00:20:12,382
came from seven different
Phnom Kulen quarries.
319
00:20:12,383 --> 00:20:16,175
However, nearly all of the
stones of the Angkor Wat temple
320
00:20:16,176 --> 00:20:19,298
have magnetic levels
of around three.
321
00:20:19,299 --> 00:20:22,716
This means that the stones used
to build the Angkor Wat temple
322
00:20:22,717 --> 00:20:25,175
almost certainly came
from a single quarry
323
00:20:25,176 --> 00:20:27,092
in the Mount Kulen region.
324
00:20:33,634 --> 00:20:37,298
The massive cut stones were
transported over 25 miles
325
00:20:37,299 --> 00:20:41,299
to Angkor using elephants
as well as slave labor.
326
00:20:43,299 --> 00:20:45,298
Rods were drilled
into the huge blocks,
327
00:20:45,299 --> 00:20:47,675
so they could be
pushed and pulled.
328
00:20:49,299 --> 00:20:51,341
Laborers also used bamboo rafts
329
00:20:51,342 --> 00:20:55,009
to float the stone on a
labyrinth of canals and rivers.
330
00:20:59,299 --> 00:21:01,091
A river called the Siem Reap
331
00:21:01,092 --> 00:21:03,382
flows most of the way
to the building site
332
00:21:03,383 --> 00:21:05,883
and then connects to
a large natural lake
333
00:21:05,884 --> 00:21:07,675
just south of Angkor.
334
00:21:10,299 --> 00:21:12,008
After a journey
of several weeks,
335
00:21:12,009 --> 00:21:13,758
they enter the last canal,
336
00:21:13,759 --> 00:21:18,298
and the rafts reach their final
destination at Angkor Wat.
337
00:21:18,299 --> 00:21:21,508
Over the 37 years it took
to build the temple,
338
00:21:21,509 --> 00:21:27,298
experts estimate that at least
20,000 people a day were needed.
339
00:21:27,299 --> 00:21:32,298
A throng of people who had to be
transported, housed and fed.
340
00:21:32,299 --> 00:21:36,674
It was a huge workforce
by 12th century standards.
341
00:21:36,675 --> 00:21:39,633
This great labor force suggests
the city as a whole
342
00:21:39,634 --> 00:21:42,298
also had a large population.
343
00:21:42,299 --> 00:21:44,716
But how large?
344
00:21:44,717 --> 00:21:46,758
One clue comes from
a nearby temple,
345
00:21:46,759 --> 00:21:49,966
built later in the same century.
346
00:21:49,967 --> 00:21:52,298
According to an inscription
in Preah Khan,
347
00:21:52,299 --> 00:21:58,382
97,480 village personnel were
assigned to this smaller temple,
348
00:21:58,383 --> 00:22:00,841
while 100,000 farmers and slaves
349
00:22:00,842 --> 00:22:03,675
contributed to
the temple's maintenance.
350
00:22:05,899 --> 00:22:07,898
Based on this, experts estimate
351
00:22:07,899 --> 00:22:13,858
that the population of the Khmer
capital was at least 700,000.
352
00:22:13,859 --> 00:22:16,650
This means Angkor's population
probably exceeded that
353
00:22:16,651 --> 00:22:19,566
of all 12th century cities.
354
00:22:19,567 --> 00:22:22,898
Paris had only 100,000 people
at the time,
355
00:22:22,899 --> 00:22:25,275
and London had just 70,000.
356
00:22:26,942 --> 00:22:30,899
Only China's Kaifeng city
was similar in size.
357
00:22:33,899 --> 00:22:37,316
One secret to how Angkor
supported this large population
358
00:22:37,317 --> 00:22:40,484
lies in an ingenious system
of waterways.
359
00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,316
Then, as now, agriculture
centered on rice
360
00:22:45,317 --> 00:22:47,899
grown on the Angkor plain.
361
00:22:50,067 --> 00:22:54,108
In addition to rice, other
grains, fruits and vegetables
362
00:22:54,109 --> 00:22:57,776
were also cultivated,
just as they are today.
363
00:23:02,484 --> 00:23:03,898
The success of this economy
364
00:23:03,899 --> 00:23:06,899
depended on the huge
Lake Tonle Sap,
365
00:23:06,900 --> 00:23:08,899
just south of ancient Angkor.
366
00:23:12,067 --> 00:23:15,066
Irrigation canals assured
one or more harvests,
367
00:23:15,067 --> 00:23:17,025
even in drought years.
368
00:23:18,899 --> 00:23:23,149
The lake was also
a rich source of food.
369
00:23:23,150 --> 00:23:25,233
A 13th century visitor wrote,
370
00:23:25,234 --> 00:23:27,608
"The lake waters are
so full of fish,
371
00:23:27,609 --> 00:23:29,899
it is difficult
to row your boat."
372
00:23:32,317 --> 00:23:35,525
Suryavarman's kingdom
was strong and wealthy.
373
00:23:35,526 --> 00:23:38,274
But could it really build
so massive a temple
374
00:23:38,275 --> 00:23:40,942
on a scale never before seen?
375
00:23:42,651 --> 00:23:45,898
The young king was determined
to see angkor wat completed
376
00:23:45,899 --> 00:23:47,692
in his lifetime.
377
00:23:54,876 --> 00:23:58,291
He also sought to extend
his kingdom's borders.
378
00:23:58,292 --> 00:24:00,998
He was drawn to the eastern edge
of the empire,
379
00:24:00,999 --> 00:24:02,998
where an invasion and conquest
380
00:24:02,999 --> 00:24:05,584
would have been
a political asset.
381
00:24:07,250 --> 00:24:09,791
Occupying what is now
South Vietnam,
382
00:24:09,792 --> 00:24:13,082
the powerful Champa kingdom
controlled the coast
383
00:24:13,083 --> 00:24:15,999
and trade routes
long coveted by the Khmer.
384
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:20,791
Beginning early in his reign,
385
00:24:20,792 --> 00:24:23,791
Suryavarman II led
a series of invasions
386
00:24:23,792 --> 00:24:25,918
into neighboring territories.
387
00:24:28,999 --> 00:24:31,416
According to inscriptions,
in one battle,
388
00:24:31,417 --> 00:24:36,250
the king led a force of
700 ships and 20,000 soldiers.
389
00:24:44,501 --> 00:24:47,791
Armed only with bows,
arrows and spears,
390
00:24:47,792 --> 00:24:50,959
the warriors fought
their enemies hand to hand.
391
00:24:59,876 --> 00:25:02,249
Another inscription describes
a different invasion
392
00:25:02,250 --> 00:25:04,334
in Suryavarman's career.
393
00:25:06,626 --> 00:25:09,458
"The ruler of Angkor turned
his ambitions for conquest
394
00:25:09,459 --> 00:25:11,208
towards the Cham people.
395
00:25:11,209 --> 00:25:13,750
He invaded,
taking the capital city
396
00:25:13,751 --> 00:25:17,541
and becoming the ruler
of the territory."
397
00:25:17,542 --> 00:25:19,917
The Khmer kingdom
solidified its control
398
00:25:19,918 --> 00:25:21,998
of most of
the Indochina peninsula,
399
00:25:21,999 --> 00:25:25,959
including much of modern day
Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
400
00:25:27,334 --> 00:25:28,999
The Khmer armies took prisoners,
401
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,583
and together with other slaves
in the empire,
402
00:25:31,584 --> 00:25:35,542
they were likely used as forced
labor to construct Angkor Wat.
403
00:25:38,584 --> 00:25:41,041
The huge construction project
was made possible
404
00:25:41,042 --> 00:25:43,291
by slave labor.
405
00:25:43,292 --> 00:25:45,541
But it couldn't solve
an unanticipated
406
00:25:45,542 --> 00:25:47,959
and alarming
engineering problem.
407
00:25:50,042 --> 00:25:53,249
The first stone structures
built on the site collapsed.
408
00:25:53,250 --> 00:25:56,416
And the human cost was high.
409
00:25:56,417 --> 00:26:00,209
The success of the entire
project was at stake.
410
00:26:03,209 --> 00:26:05,625
No amount of slave labor
could overcome
411
00:26:05,626 --> 00:26:08,333
the most serious challenge
the builders faced.
412
00:26:08,334 --> 00:26:12,041
The site itself was a swamp and
seemed completely unsuitable
413
00:26:12,042 --> 00:26:15,875
for a building the size and
weight of the proposed temple.
414
00:26:15,876 --> 00:26:18,500
The soil was spongy
and hard to work with,
415
00:26:18,501 --> 00:26:20,291
and water would flood
in one season,
416
00:26:20,292 --> 00:26:22,333
then drain away the next.
417
00:26:22,334 --> 00:26:25,333
These days, engineers would use
heavy machinery
418
00:26:25,334 --> 00:26:28,791
and reinforced concrete
to tame nature's fury,
419
00:26:28,792 --> 00:26:31,416
but the Khmer builders had
to be a bit more creative.
420
00:26:31,417 --> 00:26:32,998
And their solution became
421
00:26:32,999 --> 00:26:36,459
one of the ancient world's
greatest feats of engineering.
422
00:26:38,542 --> 00:26:41,999
Angkor Wat is surrounded
by a gigantic moat.
423
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,998
More than 600 feet wide,
424
00:26:43,999 --> 00:26:47,958
it contains tens of millions
of gallons of water.
425
00:26:47,959 --> 00:26:50,999
To the Hindu, the original
designers of the temple,
426
00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,458
the moat symbolized
the cosmic ocean.
427
00:26:54,459 --> 00:26:56,666
But besides its religious
significance,
428
00:26:56,667 --> 00:27:00,083
it turns out the moat
also has a practical purpose.
429
00:27:01,709 --> 00:27:04,291
Because this is swampland,
without the moat,
430
00:27:04,292 --> 00:27:06,917
the monsoon rains would
seep into the earth
431
00:27:06,918 --> 00:27:09,166
and push the buildings up.
432
00:27:09,167 --> 00:27:10,998
Then, in the dry season,
433
00:27:10,999 --> 00:27:12,998
the water would drain
out of the land,
434
00:27:12,999 --> 00:27:15,000
making the buildings crumble.
435
00:27:16,918 --> 00:27:18,998
The huge moat
surrounding the complex
436
00:27:18,999 --> 00:27:21,998
actually stabilizes
the water content of the earth
437
00:27:21,999 --> 00:27:23,583
under the temple,
438
00:27:23,584 --> 00:27:28,166
keeping it consistent year round
so the earth doesn't heave.
439
00:27:28,167 --> 00:27:30,666
And they found other
remarkable solutions
440
00:27:30,667 --> 00:27:35,374
to the challenges of
pre-industrial construction.
441
00:27:35,375 --> 00:27:37,999
Hans Leisen: We have
an artificial mountain.
442
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,998
And we are sitting
on the first floor.
443
00:27:40,999 --> 00:27:44,750
They built case from stone,
444
00:27:44,751 --> 00:27:49,625
and then they filled with sands
and densified very much.
445
00:27:49,626 --> 00:27:51,666
And then, the next case.
446
00:27:51,667 --> 00:27:56,958
And so, step by step,
they got the mountain.
447
00:27:56,959 --> 00:28:01,291
And we can see inside the sand,
and there's laterite,
448
00:28:01,292 --> 00:28:06,958
which is this specific brownish
stone in tropic countries,
449
00:28:06,959 --> 00:28:11,374
and then outside
there's the sandstone.
450
00:28:11,375 --> 00:28:12,998
Kwon: The central tower
of Angkor Wat
451
00:28:12,999 --> 00:28:16,250
reaches 213 feet into the sky.
452
00:28:17,999 --> 00:28:19,708
The ancient architects
had to figure out
453
00:28:19,709 --> 00:28:23,209
how to stack the massive stones
without machinery.
454
00:28:25,999 --> 00:28:29,833
First, they built earthen ramps.
455
00:28:29,834 --> 00:28:34,998
Then, laborers and elephants
dragged the stones up the ramps.
456
00:28:34,999 --> 00:28:37,583
Finally, it's believed
they erected scaffolding
457
00:28:37,584 --> 00:28:40,042
and lifted each stone
to the top.
458
00:28:42,292 --> 00:28:46,292
Remarkably, the temple was built
from the inside out.
459
00:28:50,999 --> 00:28:53,751
The tallest central tower
was erected first.
460
00:28:54,999 --> 00:28:57,833
Then, the surrounding towers
were built.
461
00:28:57,834 --> 00:29:01,998
And finally, the outer galleries
and walls were added.
462
00:29:01,999 --> 00:29:03,416
The builders raised
these columns
463
00:29:03,417 --> 00:29:07,167
made from single blocks
weighing a much as seven tons.
464
00:29:08,999 --> 00:29:10,998
They used a simple
but brilliant method
465
00:29:10,999 --> 00:29:16,334
for setting up the 1,532 columns
around the temple complex.
466
00:29:17,999 --> 00:29:20,500
Angkor Wat has survived,
fairly intact,
467
00:29:20,501 --> 00:29:22,500
for nearly 900 years--
468
00:29:22,501 --> 00:29:26,166
An achievement that surely
would have pleased its builders.
469
00:29:26,167 --> 00:29:29,791
But the swampy site and
Cambodia's tropical climate
470
00:29:29,792 --> 00:29:33,082
have definitely taken a toll
on these buildings.
471
00:29:33,083 --> 00:29:36,249
Although some intricate
sandstone features
472
00:29:36,250 --> 00:29:37,998
show few signs of their age,
473
00:29:37,999 --> 00:29:40,875
others have worn away
and decayed.
474
00:29:40,876 --> 00:29:43,791
Certain original features,
like the gold leaf ornamentation
475
00:29:43,792 --> 00:29:45,998
that would have awed
early visitors,
476
00:29:45,999 --> 00:29:50,333
are gone forever, looted after
the Khmer empire's decline.
477
00:29:50,334 --> 00:29:52,998
When it was completed
around 1150 A.D.,
478
00:29:52,999 --> 00:29:55,875
Angkor Wat was the biggest
building in the world--
479
00:29:55,876 --> 00:29:58,998
about the size of
11 football fields.
480
00:29:58,999 --> 00:30:02,291
Now, teams of scientists and
archaeologists have spent years
481
00:30:02,292 --> 00:30:03,958
trying to figure out
482
00:30:03,959 --> 00:30:06,625
what the temple might have
looked like in its heyday.
483
00:30:06,626 --> 00:30:08,500
And they've pieced together
the puzzle,
484
00:30:08,501 --> 00:30:10,458
data point by data point.
485
00:30:10,459 --> 00:30:13,998
And now, with the help of
21st century technology,
486
00:30:13,999 --> 00:30:17,999
we can finally get a glimpse of
Angkor Wat's original splendor.
487
00:30:30,876 --> 00:30:33,166
Cunin: Many of the structures
were close to white.
488
00:30:33,167 --> 00:30:37,374
But some of the sculptures
were glazed in many colors.
489
00:30:37,375 --> 00:30:41,292
Most of the surviving colors
are a yellowish brown or red.
490
00:30:43,167 --> 00:30:45,999
That's because the pigments
had an iron oxide base,
491
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,124
which lasts for a long time.
492
00:30:49,125 --> 00:30:51,998
But the other colors such as
blue, yellow and green
493
00:30:51,999 --> 00:30:54,292
have all disappeared.
494
00:31:02,918 --> 00:31:06,082
Kwon: The exterior walls and
columns were most likely white
495
00:31:06,083 --> 00:31:08,750
from a coating of lime.
496
00:31:08,751 --> 00:31:10,208
But it was the roofing material
497
00:31:10,209 --> 00:31:12,625
that dominated
the look of the temple.
498
00:31:12,626 --> 00:31:15,249
The towers were most likely
covered in gold,
499
00:31:15,250 --> 00:31:17,124
which deteriorated
over the centuries
500
00:31:17,125 --> 00:31:19,333
after Angkor Wat was built.
501
00:31:19,334 --> 00:31:20,750
Some historians believe that
502
00:31:20,751 --> 00:31:23,041
the towers may have
even been regilded
503
00:31:23,042 --> 00:31:28,082
by one or more of the rulers
who followed Suryavarman II.
504
00:31:28,083 --> 00:31:31,416
It is easy to imagine that
the plaster on all of the towers
505
00:31:31,417 --> 00:31:34,374
was used as a base layer
for the gilding,
506
00:31:34,375 --> 00:31:37,374
which made the entire structure
extremely ornate
507
00:31:37,375 --> 00:31:39,998
and visually striking.
508
00:31:39,999 --> 00:31:42,998
This computer image was created
based on the opinions
509
00:31:42,999 --> 00:31:45,875
and research of scholars.
510
00:31:45,876 --> 00:31:47,998
White plastered walls contrast
511
00:31:47,999 --> 00:31:50,500
with the golden lintels
and towers.
512
00:31:50,601 --> 00:31:51,933
On a bright day,
513
00:31:51,934 --> 00:31:54,976
the entire temple would have
sparkled in the sun.
514
00:31:57,183 --> 00:31:59,098
Suryavarman II didn't live
515
00:31:59,099 --> 00:32:03,098
to see his fantastic temple
completed.
516
00:32:03,099 --> 00:32:07,224
But he probably saw it in the
later stages of construction.
517
00:32:07,225 --> 00:32:08,600
What did the king feel
518
00:32:08,601 --> 00:32:12,266
as he saw this magnificent
structure taking shape?
519
00:32:12,267 --> 00:32:15,309
It was a palace fit for a god.
520
00:32:19,601 --> 00:32:22,767
And he must have known
it would also become his tomb.
521
00:32:25,059 --> 00:32:26,516
Only fragments of the wood
522
00:32:26,517 --> 00:32:30,350
that once covered the interior
stone walls still remain.
523
00:32:32,851 --> 00:32:35,099
It's believed the wood
was highly decorated,
524
00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:39,683
inlaid and ornamented with
a wide variety of patterns.
525
00:32:39,684 --> 00:32:42,766
Gilded doors
divided the chambers.
526
00:32:42,767 --> 00:32:44,558
and the gallery
walls and ceilings
527
00:32:44,559 --> 00:32:47,059
would have been
lavishly adorned.
528
00:32:49,142 --> 00:32:52,266
Since the king first set eyes
on these galleries,
529
00:32:52,267 --> 00:32:56,809
millions more have journeyed
to admire these dramatic scenes.
530
00:32:58,517 --> 00:33:01,266
The carvings encircle
the entire outer gallery,
531
00:33:01,267 --> 00:33:03,100
from floor to ceiling.
532
00:33:05,684 --> 00:33:08,182
Measuring 2,600 feet,
533
00:33:08,183 --> 00:33:11,767
it is the longest continuous
bas relief in the world.
534
00:33:16,350 --> 00:33:18,098
In the north gallery,
535
00:33:18,099 --> 00:33:21,098
this famous relief called
the Battle of Kurushetra
536
00:33:21,099 --> 00:33:24,433
depicts an ancient combat scene
from Indian history
537
00:33:24,434 --> 00:33:27,851
retold in the epic work,
the Mahabharata.
538
00:33:30,559 --> 00:33:32,098
Angkor Wat's walls are covered
539
00:33:32,099 --> 00:33:36,808
with 12,900 square feet
of bas relief carvings.
540
00:33:36,809 --> 00:33:40,182
Executed with great skill
and artistic sophistication,
541
00:33:40,183 --> 00:33:43,851
the reliefs are considered a
masterpiece in their own right.
542
00:33:46,018 --> 00:33:49,099
These carvings cover multiple
blocks of sandstone
543
00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:51,349
and are so perfectly
fitted together
544
00:33:51,350 --> 00:33:54,099
that the seams are
almost invisible.
545
00:33:56,099 --> 00:33:59,098
Even the detailed lintels
at the top of the walls
546
00:33:59,099 --> 00:34:02,225
are carved from
the same stone blocks.
547
00:34:04,350 --> 00:34:08,017
Each artist would cut away
layers of the wall
548
00:34:08,018 --> 00:34:11,309
and then carve the reliefs
directly into the stone.
549
00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:18,308
Hundreds of highly skilled
carvers worked side by side
550
00:34:18,309 --> 00:34:22,224
to complete the work
in only decades.
551
00:34:22,225 --> 00:34:23,975
Experts admire not only
552
00:34:23,976 --> 00:34:26,558
the expressive human figures
in the carvings,
553
00:34:26,559 --> 00:34:29,098
but also the remarkable
perspective
554
00:34:29,099 --> 00:34:32,099
these early artists
were able to achieve.
555
00:34:35,726 --> 00:34:38,098
Continuing along to
the southern gallery,
556
00:34:38,099 --> 00:34:41,141
visitors encounter
a 260-foot depiction
557
00:34:41,142 --> 00:34:46,098
of Suryavarman II's
full royal procession.
558
00:34:46,099 --> 00:34:50,141
Military leaders, priests,
musicians, standard bearers,
559
00:34:50,142 --> 00:34:54,225
servants, and royalty all take
their place in this carving.
560
00:34:55,642 --> 00:34:57,933
The carving's centerpiece
is the famous portrait
561
00:34:57,934 --> 00:35:01,098
of Suryavarman II himself.
562
00:35:01,099 --> 00:35:05,018
Lingering traces of gold
hint at its former splendor.
563
00:35:06,726 --> 00:35:09,725
Leisen: Maybe the king
was partly gilded.
564
00:35:09,726 --> 00:35:15,349
We can see some of the gildings
on the relief of Suryavarman II.
565
00:35:15,350 --> 00:35:17,474
Kwon: The famous portrait
of the king was gilded
566
00:35:17,475 --> 00:35:19,391
and surrounded by red--
567
00:35:19,392 --> 00:35:22,767
the color symbolizing
protection and strength.
568
00:35:24,976 --> 00:35:27,349
Continuing to
the east side gallery,
569
00:35:27,350 --> 00:35:30,558
a visitor finds perhaps
the most famous and revered
570
00:35:30,559 --> 00:35:32,099
of all the reliefs--
571
00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:35,098
the churning of the sea of milk.
572
00:35:35,099 --> 00:35:37,182
It depicts Vishnu and Devas,
573
00:35:37,183 --> 00:35:39,058
the benevolent Hindu gods,
574
00:35:39,059 --> 00:35:41,516
and the Ashuras, the evil gods,
575
00:35:41,517 --> 00:35:43,098
all pulling on a great snake
576
00:35:43,099 --> 00:35:46,851
to churn the cosmic sea
in search of eternal life.
577
00:35:48,809 --> 00:35:51,099
Their struggle released
countless deities,
578
00:35:51,100 --> 00:35:54,350
including the beautiful nymphs
called Apsaras.
579
00:35:58,809 --> 00:36:02,350
In the northern gallery is
a battle of the gods and demons.
580
00:36:04,225 --> 00:36:06,099
This epic battle scene
illustrates
581
00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:08,600
the pantheon of 21 Hindu gods
582
00:36:08,601 --> 00:36:11,099
battling alongside
human warriors.
583
00:36:14,642 --> 00:36:18,309
Led by Vishnu, the gods of good
defeat the evil gods.
584
00:36:20,517 --> 00:36:22,516
And as Suryavarman II
was considered
585
00:36:22,517 --> 00:36:25,017
an earthly avatar of Vishnu,
586
00:36:25,018 --> 00:36:27,517
the scene celebrates
his reign as well.
587
00:36:33,018 --> 00:36:35,266
It could be said that
the entire temple of Angkor Wat
588
00:36:35,267 --> 00:36:37,266
is a single work of art.
589
00:36:37,267 --> 00:36:39,850
The artifacts and engraved
scenes aren't simply ornaments
590
00:36:39,851 --> 00:36:41,266
installed in the temple,
591
00:36:41,267 --> 00:36:44,641
They're carved into
the very structure itself.
592
00:36:44,642 --> 00:36:46,182
Once the enormous blocks
were in place,
593
00:36:46,183 --> 00:36:48,933
artists chiseled symbols,
figures and deities
594
00:36:48,934 --> 00:36:52,058
into virtually every surface
of the sandstone.
595
00:36:52,059 --> 00:36:53,224
All of this dazzling creation
596
00:36:53,225 --> 00:36:57,516
forged into one extraordinary
and sacred sculpture.
597
00:36:57,517 --> 00:37:01,017
Of all the carvings, these are
some of the most popular.
598
00:37:01,018 --> 00:37:04,683
They're called Apsaras, or
in English, celestial nymphs--
599
00:37:04,684 --> 00:37:08,266
supernatural women who were said
to dance for the gods.
600
00:37:08,267 --> 00:37:10,975
They supposedly had the power
to change their shapes
601
00:37:10,976 --> 00:37:13,933
or influence whether
a gambler won or lost.
602
00:37:13,934 --> 00:37:15,891
But someone wasn't
taking any chances.
603
00:37:15,892 --> 00:37:19,601
There are nearly 1,800 of them
depicted all around the temple.
604
00:37:25,142 --> 00:37:30,224
1,796 full body sculptures
of divine women
605
00:37:30,225 --> 00:37:32,309
were carved at Angkor Wat.
606
00:37:34,099 --> 00:37:36,141
With a wide variety
of facial features,
607
00:37:36,142 --> 00:37:40,392
hairstyles and headdresses,
no two are exactly alike.
608
00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:45,224
These temple guardians
and dancers
609
00:37:45,225 --> 00:37:47,683
were probably based
on actual women
610
00:37:47,684 --> 00:37:51,058
residing near the temple
in the 12th century.
611
00:37:51,059 --> 00:37:53,725
Apsaras are everywhere you look
in the temple,
612
00:37:53,726 --> 00:37:58,225
standing alone in meditation
or sometimes in pairs or groups.
613
00:37:58,517 --> 00:38:00,975
Each pose of these dancers
has a meaning,
614
00:38:00,976 --> 00:38:04,475
and together, the movements
of the dance tell a story.
615
00:38:07,099 --> 00:38:11,309
It's a form of dance still very
much alive in modern Cambodia.
616
00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:16,098
Called the Apsara dance,
617
00:38:16,099 --> 00:38:19,433
this art form has passed
from generation to generation
618
00:38:19,434 --> 00:38:20,933
in an unbroken line
619
00:38:20,934 --> 00:38:24,475
from the time of Suryavarman II
and before.
620
00:38:27,267 --> 00:38:29,141
According to hindu mythology,
621
00:38:29,142 --> 00:38:31,933
the gods made
600 million Apsaras
622
00:38:31,934 --> 00:38:34,098
when they created the universe.
623
00:38:34,099 --> 00:38:36,975
And these celestial nymphs
were released to the world
624
00:38:36,976 --> 00:38:40,309
when the deities churned
the cosmic sea of milk.
625
00:38:44,018 --> 00:38:47,017
The temple of Angkor Wat
probably had 3,000 or more
626
00:38:47,018 --> 00:38:49,098
Apsara dancers assigned to it,
627
00:38:49,099 --> 00:38:53,099
to entertain the king and his
visitors, as well as the gods.
628
00:38:58,601 --> 00:39:01,516
The Apsara dance almost died out
in the 1970s
629
00:39:01,517 --> 00:39:04,683
during Cambodia's
Khmer Rouge regime.
630
00:39:04,684 --> 00:39:06,433
Dancers at the time
were targeted
631
00:39:06,434 --> 00:39:10,018
as intellectuals and elitist,
and they were killed.
632
00:39:12,018 --> 00:39:14,433
Today, this ancient dance
is once again
633
00:39:14,434 --> 00:39:17,099
a visible part
of Cambodian culture.
634
00:39:19,684 --> 00:39:23,683
It has been recently revived by
dancers studying apsara carvings
635
00:39:23,684 --> 00:39:25,099
at Angkor Wat.
636
00:39:28,099 --> 00:39:29,933
Leaving behind
the outer galleries,
637
00:39:29,934 --> 00:39:33,683
a visitor would next reach
the second level of Angkor Wat.
638
00:39:33,684 --> 00:39:37,098
Here, columns border
a cross-shaped gallery
639
00:39:37,099 --> 00:39:40,183
that mimics the layout of
the temple's central level.
640
00:39:41,767 --> 00:39:44,558
These galleries lead the way
to a large pool
641
00:39:44,559 --> 00:39:47,098
where the king and the brahmins
purified themselves
642
00:39:47,099 --> 00:39:51,098
before performing rituals
to the gods.
643
00:39:51,099 --> 00:39:55,098
Here, lingering traces of colors
that covered the surfaces
644
00:39:55,099 --> 00:39:58,059
suggest how the temple
once looked.
645
00:40:01,350 --> 00:40:03,266
Uchida: At the center
of the cruciform gallery
646
00:40:03,267 --> 00:40:06,433
is a column which is colored
in five layers of paint
647
00:40:06,434 --> 00:40:09,516
that alternates
Between white and red.
648
00:40:09,517 --> 00:40:13,017
First, they used red pigment
on a white background.
649
00:40:13,018 --> 00:40:14,308
In the next generation,
650
00:40:14,309 --> 00:40:18,098
they painted using red pigment
on a white background again.
651
00:40:18,099 --> 00:40:19,641
Although we don't know why,
652
00:40:19,642 --> 00:40:21,516
they finally covered
everything in white,
653
00:40:21,517 --> 00:40:23,934
so it currently looks pink.
654
00:40:27,099 --> 00:40:29,516
Kwon: Every trace of
ancient residue adds clues
655
00:40:29,517 --> 00:40:33,642
to Angkor Wat's glory as
its royal patron once saw it.
656
00:40:36,517 --> 00:40:38,098
As in many Hindu temples,
657
00:40:38,099 --> 00:40:41,098
the five towers of Angkor Wat
represent the five peaks
658
00:40:41,099 --> 00:40:42,766
of sacred Mount Meru,
659
00:40:42,767 --> 00:40:46,099
the residence of the gods
in the ancient tradition.
660
00:40:47,726 --> 00:40:52,391
The highest tower soars as high
as Notre Dame Cathedral.
661
00:40:52,392 --> 00:40:56,098
In all, 10 stairways lead
to the central tower--
662
00:40:56,099 --> 00:40:58,349
a deviation from temples
built earlier,
663
00:40:58,350 --> 00:41:01,099
such as the 11th century
Baphuon.
664
00:41:04,976 --> 00:41:06,433
Pascal Royere [translated]:
In the case of Baphuon,
665
00:41:06,434 --> 00:41:09,098
the four stairways on the four
sides were added later on
666
00:41:09,099 --> 00:41:11,098
because of safety issues.
667
00:41:11,099 --> 00:41:13,850
The stairways were added
in order to solve problems
668
00:41:13,851 --> 00:41:16,891
which arose during
the construction of Baphuon.
669
00:41:16,892 --> 00:41:19,099
But in Angkor Wat, they were
included in the plans
670
00:41:19,100 --> 00:41:22,017
from the very beginning
of construction.
671
00:41:22,018 --> 00:41:25,098
As a result, a new and very
special style of architecture
672
00:41:25,099 --> 00:41:26,767
was created.
673
00:41:29,099 --> 00:41:32,058
Kwon: All the stairways except
those in the central corridor
674
00:41:32,059 --> 00:41:35,516
are too steep to climb
with ease.
675
00:41:35,517 --> 00:41:37,766
These features are thought
to be a reminder
676
00:41:37,767 --> 00:41:40,684
that the path to enlightenment
is not easy.
677
00:41:48,642 --> 00:41:51,182
The moat symbolizing
the great cosmic sea
678
00:41:51,183 --> 00:41:53,850
encloses 500 acres of land
679
00:41:53,851 --> 00:41:57,976
where the temple of Angkor Wat
sits at its majestic center.
680
00:42:01,934 --> 00:42:04,098
Although it is now
a Buddhist sanctuary,
681
00:42:04,099 --> 00:42:07,683
Angkor Wat was built as
a Hindu temple honoring Vishnu,
682
00:42:07,684 --> 00:42:12,099
the Hindu god Suryavarman II
was closely associated with.
683
00:42:17,475 --> 00:42:20,182
As impressive and inspiring
as they are now,
684
00:42:20,183 --> 00:42:23,182
the towers were surely
once even more so,
685
00:42:23,183 --> 00:42:25,892
when their gold
gleamed in the sun.
686
00:42:28,099 --> 00:42:31,308
Inside the highest tower
was a central sanctuary,
687
00:42:31,309 --> 00:42:34,142
where the king built
a shrine to Vishnu.
688
00:42:37,434 --> 00:42:40,891
A golden statue of Vishnu
reigned over the entire temple
689
00:42:40,892 --> 00:42:43,099
from this place of honor.
690
00:42:46,100 --> 00:42:48,725
Long after the reign
of Suryavarman II,
691
00:42:48,726 --> 00:42:51,850
when the Khmer empire
became a Buddhist nation,
692
00:42:51,851 --> 00:42:53,474
the statue of Vishnu
was replaced
693
00:42:53,475 --> 00:42:57,309
with a likeness of Buddha,
which remains to this day.
694
00:43:00,099 --> 00:43:01,433
In the mid 12th century,
695
00:43:01,434 --> 00:43:05,224
when Suryavarman II visited his
nearly completed masterpiece,
696
00:43:05,225 --> 00:43:08,559
he was nearing the end
of his life and his reign.
697
00:43:12,225 --> 00:43:14,558
Suryavarman II's rule
is considered
698
00:43:14,559 --> 00:43:16,933
the golden age of
the Khmer empire,
699
00:43:16,934 --> 00:43:21,098
and Angkor Wat is the ultimate
symbol of his dynasty.
700
00:43:21,099 --> 00:43:24,017
It's not known exactly
when the king died.
701
00:43:24,018 --> 00:43:26,766
It was probably around
the year 1150 A.D.,
702
00:43:26,767 --> 00:43:29,391
not long after the completion
of the temple.
703
00:43:29,392 --> 00:43:31,266
What happened next is unclear,
704
00:43:31,267 --> 00:43:35,141
because there are no records
for the period after his death.
705
00:43:35,142 --> 00:43:39,017
But what we do know is that
it was a time of great turmoil.
706
00:43:39,018 --> 00:43:40,433
The next king reigned
only briefly
707
00:43:40,434 --> 00:43:43,558
before war and discord
began sapping the empire
708
00:43:43,559 --> 00:43:45,683
of its strength.
709
00:43:45,684 --> 00:43:48,683
Suryavarman had conquered
his part of the world,
710
00:43:48,684 --> 00:43:51,725
expanded his empire
and successfully created
711
00:43:51,726 --> 00:43:54,141
one of the world's
greatest monuments.
712
00:43:54,142 --> 00:43:56,891
But of all his achievements,
713
00:43:56,892 --> 00:44:01,017
only Angkor Wat would
stand the test of time.
714
00:44:01,018 --> 00:44:03,308
The image of Angkor Wat has
graced the Cambodian flag
715
00:44:03,309 --> 00:44:08,098
since 1953, and it remains
a source of great pride
716
00:44:08,099 --> 00:44:10,018
for modern Cambodians.
717
00:44:12,142 --> 00:44:14,558
Over the course of
his four-decade rule,
718
00:44:14,559 --> 00:44:17,391
Suryavarman II increased
the Khmer empire
719
00:44:17,392 --> 00:44:20,266
by more than
100,000 square miles,
720
00:44:20,267 --> 00:44:25,017
establishing himself
as a great warrior king.
721
00:44:25,018 --> 00:44:27,975
When he was entombed
in his own greatest creation,
722
00:44:27,976 --> 00:44:31,391
he was given the posthumous name
Paramavishnuloka,
723
00:44:31,392 --> 00:44:35,099
or "He who has entered
the heavenly world of Vishnu."
724
00:44:39,100 --> 00:44:44,058
After he died, the Khmer empire
fell into disarray.
725
00:44:44,059 --> 00:44:46,349
Opposing factions
vied for power,
726
00:44:46,350 --> 00:44:50,099
and the country suffered
invasions by neighboring forces.
727
00:44:52,099 --> 00:44:55,058
Today Angkor Wat is
a cherished reminder
728
00:44:55,059 --> 00:44:57,850
of the khmer empire's past glory
729
00:44:57,851 --> 00:45:02,098
and a source of great pride
in modern Cambodia.
730
00:45:02,099 --> 00:45:04,224
A UNESCO world heritage site,
731
00:45:04,225 --> 00:45:08,099
it draws a million visitors
per year from around the globe.
732
00:45:09,267 --> 00:45:14,098
Symbol, temple,
tomb, and treasure,
733
00:45:14,099 --> 00:45:19,098
Angkor Wat is a masterpiece of
ancient monumental architecture.
734
00:45:19,099 --> 00:45:22,809
It has few rivals
anywhere on earth.
60171
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