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24-Aug-2005
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More than a century ago, the French naturalist Henri Mouhot accidentally
came across an old history book about a kingdom in Indochina that had
established its capital on a hill and built a huge temple called Angkor Wat.
His discovery aroused the curiosity of a number of French archaeologists and
explorers, who launched a series of expeditions to locate the hidden remains
of the kingdom, located near Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Years later, their excavations uncovered a vast city filled with huge stone
temples and palaces, decorated with statues of Hindu gods and stone carvings
describing the history of the Angkor empire, which flourished from the 8th
to 13th centuries.
Although this marvel is commonly known as Angkor Wat, that temple is only
the biggest and most famous one in the Angkor complex, built from the 11th
to 12th century on a 9-hectare (22-acre) site.
Bringing the history and myths of the long-vanished kingdom closer to home,
100 relics of the Angkor empire will be displayed at the Seoul Museum of
History from Tuesday through Sept. 12. All artifacts are genuine; most are
components of monuments from Angkor or other Khmer dynasties, both before
and after the Angkor period. The pieces are the property of the National
Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
"Angkor is a treasure not only for Cambodians but for people around the
world," Norodom Bopha Devi, Cambodia's minister of culture and fine arts,
said in a statement.
On exhibit is a sandstone sculpture of the head of King Jayavarman VII, a
conqueror who reigned around the 12th century and revived the Angkor empire
following invasions by its neighbors. The sculpture was found in Preah Khan,
a temple in Angkor's northeast.
A bronze statue dating to around the 12th century, "Sadasiva" contains the
five faces of Siva, one of the Hindu Trinity of gods, known as the god of
destruction as well as of rebirth. The faces symbolize the five elements of
creation: earth, water, fire, air and energy.
Also on view is a sandstone statue of Ganesa, an elephant-headed son of
Siva. According to legend, Siva decapitated his son out of anger, but out of
remorse replaced his head with that of an elephant.
"Standing Vishnu with Four Arms" is a sandstone statue of Vishnu from the
9th century, a member of the Hindu Trinity. "Uma and Siva" is a sandstone
statue of Siva and his consort, Uma. Found in Siem Reap, this sculpture
dates to the 10th century.
The area around Siem Reap is a popular attraction for Korean travelers; an
average of 800 Korean tourists visit Angkor every day, according to
Cambodian authorities.
For those who haven't made the journey, help in understanding the real-life
surroundings of the artifacts on display is provided in the form of
photographs taken by Bae Bien-u, a professor at the Seoul Institute of the
Arts.
Mr. Bae took the pictures on display early in the morning during Cambodia's
monsoon season, when the surfaces of the Angkor ruins were wet with dew and
rain. The effect is dramatic, with strong contrasts.
by Limb Jae-un <jbiz91@joongang.co.kr>
Ticket price ranges from 6,000 won ($5) to 10,000 won. The Seoul Museum of
History is located near Seodaemun Station on subway line No. 5. For more
information, call (02) 714-0313 or visit the Web site www.angkorwat.co.kr