Suryavarman II and the Building of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument, but who built it and why? In this episode, we explore the reign of King Suryavarman II, the ambitious 12th-century ruler who commissioned this masterpiece. We discuss his military campaigns against the Cham and the Dai Viet, his consolidation of power, and the Hindu cosmology that shaped Angkor Wat's design—a terrestrial representation of Mount Meru. We also touch on the temple's original dedication to Vishnu, its later transformation into a Buddhist site, and the controversies surrounding Suryavarman II's own death and afterlife. Drawing on inscriptions and Chinese sources, we piece together the life of a king who built for eternity but whose end remains a mystery. #AngkorWat #SuryavarmanII #KhmerEmpire #Angkor #Cambodia #Hinduism #MountMeru #Vishnu #Champa #DaiViet #SoutheastAsianHistory #TempleArchitecture #12thCentury #MedievalHistory #WorldHeritage #History #FexingoHistory #AncientCivilizations #JayavarmanVII #Bayon Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo