Angkor's Lost City: The Rise and Fall of Koh Ker

Most people think Angkor was always the capital of the Khmer Empire. But for a brief, explosive period in the 10th century, a usurper king named Jayavarman IV moved the entire court to a remote jungle site called Koh Ker, 80 kilometers northeast of Siem Reap. There, he built a massive pyramid temple, Prasat Thom, and ruled over a sprawling network of canals and reservoirs. This episode explores the political intrigue behind the capital's move, the engineering marvels of Koh Ker, and its abrupt abandonment after just 23 years. We'll discuss the mysterious inscription that records Jayavarman's takeover from his nephew, the bloody succession that followed, and the archaeological evidence suggesting Koh Ker's collapse was tied to both water management failures and the pull of traditional Khmer Hindu centers. Join Lucas and Luna as they uncover the story of a forgotten capital that nearly eclipsed Angkor. #KhmerEmpire #KohKer #JayavarmanIV #PrasatThom #Angkor #Cambodia #SoutheastAsianHistory #AncientCities #WaterManagement #Hinduism #Devaraja #Archaeology #Lidar #UsurperKing #10thCentury #ForgottenCapital #History #FexingoHistory #AngkorWat #SuryavarmanII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo