(click on the images to get a
larger view)
Early history: 1800 years ago, Cambodia was a
kingdom of Indian settlers, called Kambuja.
These Indians were called Khmers. The mighty
Khmer Empire flourished over much of Southeast
Asia during the 12th century. Angor Wat (the
temple above), the largest religious building in
the world, was built during this period,
representing the power of the empire. Created by
a succession of the kings glorifying their
godlike power, the temples of Angkor Tom (which
includes Angkor Wat) span nine square
kilometers. Jayavarman VII built most of the
temples during his reign from 1181-1220. He was
the son of Suryavarman II, who built Angkor Wat
itself.
Cambodians are very proud of their heritage -
Angkor Wat is the national symbol of the
country. Early art in these temples glorified
Hindu gods, such as Hanuman (monkey god), Vishnu
(creator god), and Shiva (god of war). Later,
because Jayavarman VII's wife was Buddhist,
images of Buddha and the Bodhisattva ( an
individual whom Buddhists believe has reached
enlightenment) began to appear. Temples were
largely made of laterite, a volcanic stone.
|
|
|
|
Bodhisattva at the Bayon.
|
Apsaras (heavenly dancers) were
everpresent at the Angkor temples.
|
|
|
|
|
Naga was a many headed snake, He
appears often in Angkor
architecture.
|
A hallway at Angkor Wat.
|
Recent history: In the 1860's, Cambodia was
colonized by France, but was granted
independence in 1953. King Norodom Sihanouk
ruled the country until he was overthrown by a
group called the Khmer Rouge (red Khmer). These
people were disgruntled elite intellectuals who
dreamed of a one-class society such as China's.
They set about a violent restructuring of
Cambodian society, their goal being to change
all citizens into peasants who lived on communal
farms. The leader of this regime was Pol Pot; he
and his soldiers all but destroyed Cambodian
culture. Vietnam invaded the country in 1978,
forced Pol Pot to flee, and installed Hun Sen as
prime minister. Hun Sen has fought to keep power
and implement reform. King Sihanouk is still
king, but his power is largely ceremonial. His
son Ranariddh is head of the senate, which has
less power than Hun Sen's parliament.
|
|
|
|
Pol Pot, head of the Khmer
Rouge.
|
King Norodom Sihanouk.
|
|
|
|
|
Hun Sen, 1985.
|
Sign posted on the wall of Toul
Sleng Museum. This was used by Pol
Pot's security forces as Security
Prison 21.
|
|
|
|
This picture was taken at the entry
of Tuol Sleng, an infamous prison
located in a former school, where men,
women, and children were confined,
tortured and killed during the reign of
Pol Pot. Amputees beg at the
entrance.
|
This sign stands at the Killing
Fields, a place where Khmer Rouge
slaughtered prisoners and buried them.
"Kampuchea" is an ancient name for
Cambodia.
|
|
|
|
|
Old military hardware left from the
Khmer Rouge regime.
|
Tools of torture at Tuol Sleng
Prison.
|
Remnants still remain of former miltary
occupation - this gun above Tonle Sap Lake near
Siem Reap.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)