Cambodia

350 high-definition creative commons photographs presented here are from the Cambodia collections, on the linked pages you will find many photographs, also wherever possible I have added in relevant historical information, videos, maps and diagrams

Video: The Legend of the God-King Jayavarman 11
(founder of Angkor) (28 mins)

Royal Ballet of Cambodia: The Story of Jayavarman 11

Short History of the Khmer Empire

The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia, based in what is now Cambodia and flourishing from the 9th to the 15th century. The empire, which grew out of former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

The beginning of the era of the Khmer kingdom is conventionally dated to 802 AD. In this year, King Jayavarman II had himself declared him a Wheel-Turning Monarch (Chakravartin) and King of the Gods (Devaraja) on Mount Kulen, initiating the cult of the Divine Monarch which characterised the Empire.

Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city during the empire's zenith. Angkor bears testimony to the Khmer empire's immense power and wealth, as well as the variety of belief systems that it patronised over time. The empire's official religions included Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, until Theravada Buddhism prevailed, even among the lower classes, after its introduction from Sri Lanka in the 13th century.

Modern researches by satellites have revealed Angkor to be by far the largest pre-industrial urban center in the world, being around 1,000 sq km or roughly the size of Los Angeles. Its nearest rival in the ancient world was Tikal, a Mayan city in Guatemala, which covers between 100 and 150 sq km. It is estimated that well over a half a million people were living in the area, which was sustained through a large complex of reservoirs and irrigation schemes in which the temples played a large part. Click here to toggle more of this story...

History of Jayavarman VII

Statue of King Jayavarman VII Jayavarman VII (1125 - 1215) was a king of the Khmer Empire (c.1181-1215) in present day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150-1160) and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi. The two women are commonly thought to have been a great inspiration to him, particularly in his unusual devotion to Buddhism.

Jayavarman probably spent his early years away from the Khmer capital. He may have spent time among the Cham of modern-day Vietnam. The Cham shared with the Khmer the Hindu and Buddhist religions, as well as the use of Sanskrit as a formal language.

In 1177 and again in 1178, the Cham invaded Cambodia. In 1178, they launched a surprise attack on the Khmer capital by sailing a fleet up the Mekong River, across Lake Tonle Sap, and then up the Siem Reap River, a tributary of the Tonle Sap. The invaders pillaged the Khmer capital of Yasodharapura and put the king to death, as well as taking the Apsara dancers.

Fighting on the Tonle Sap In the same year Jayavarman came into historical prominence by leading a Khmer army that ousted the invaders. At the time, he may already have been in his 60s. Returning to the capital, he found it in disorder. He put an end to the disputes between warring factions and in 1181 was crowned king himself. Early in his reign, he probably repelled another Cham attack, quelled a rebellion, and rebuilt the capital of Angkor. Click here to toggle more of this story...