ANGKOR, an assemblage of ruins in Cambodia, the relic of the ancient Khmer civilization. They are situated in forests to the north of the Great Lake (Tonle-Sap), the most conspicuous of the remains being the town of Angkor-Thom and the temple of Angkor-Vac, both of which lie on the right bank of the river Siem-Reap, a tributary of the Tonle-Sap. Other remains of the same character lie scattered about the vicinity on both banks of the river. It has been decided to enclose them in a park.
Angkor-Thom, according to Aymonier, was begun about A.D. 86o and finished towards A.D. goo. Within a rectangular enclosure, nearly 2m. in each direction, which is entered by five monumental gates, are the remains of palaces and temples, overgrown by the forest. The chief of these are : (1 ) The vestiges of the royal pal ace and the pyramidal religious structure known as the Phimea nakas, both of which stood within an enclosure to the east of which extends a terrace decorated with magnificent relief (2) The temple of Bayon, consisting of a double system of galleries enclosing a cruciform structure, at the centre of which rises a huge tower with a circular base. Fifty towers, decorated with quad ruple faces of Brahma, are built at intervals upon the galleries, the whole temple ranking as perhaps the most remarkable of the Khmer remains.
Angkor-Vat, the best preserved example of Khmer architecture, lies less than a mile to the south of the royal city, within a park surrounded by a moat, the outer perimeter of which measures 6,o6o yards. Although sometimes said to have been devoted to the worship of Brahma, the French school of the Far East now thinks that the temple was consecrated to the worship of Buddha. It consists of three stages, connected by exterior staircases and decreasing in dimensions as they rise, culminating in the sanctuary, a great central tower pyramidal in form. Three galleries with vaulting supported on columns lead from the three western por tals to the second stage. They are connected by a transverse gallery thus forming four square basins. Khmer decoration, pro fuse but harmonious, consists chiefly in the representation of gods, men and animals, which are displayed on every flat surface. Com bats and legendary episodes are often depicted ; floral decoration is reserved chiefly for borders, mouldings and capitals. Sand stone of various colours was the chief material employed by the Khmers, without the use of cement ; limonite was also used. (See