Angkor Wat's Bas-Reliefs: History Carved in Stone

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the vast narrative bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat's third gallery. Spanning over 600 meters, these stone carvings depict the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, the Mahabharata wars, and the historical procession of King Suryavarman II. They discuss the military campaigns against the Cham, the balance between celestial myth and earthly power, and how these reliefs served as political propaganda. The conversation also touches on the unfinished panels, the identity of the carvers, and the recent conservation efforts using digital photogrammetry. Listeners will learn about scenes like the battle of Kurukshetra, the judgment of Yama, and the heaven and hell panels, all while understanding how the Khmer Empire used stone to assert divine authority. #AngkorWat #KhmerEmpire #BasRelief #SuryavarmanII #ChurningOfTheOceanOfMilk #Mahabharata #Champa #Hinduism #MountMeru #Cambodia #TempleCarving #StoneMasonry #Archaeology #DigitalConservation #SoutheastAsianHistory #CulturalHeritage #History #FexingoHistory #JayavarmanVII #Bayon Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo