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Angkor - 2003
Angkor - 2003
Jacek Pałkiewicz2006-06-25 13:29:32
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which here gave free rein to its fecundity and power without reserve.
A few enormous old trees, propped up by free-moving plants, lay heavily on the ruins; others, crushed by their own weight, shattered the roofing of vaults, architraves, and chapels. The invasive and destructive power of these unstoppable roots managed to break through the outside wall of a few galleries, while the creepers, with stalks as strong as steel, throttled the fallen statues of the apsaras; and also the courtyards and colonnades were obstructed by the ruinous fall of masses of stone.
While I observed this “fair”, intent on the savage and voracious banquet, I was overcome by a wave of disgust which hit me like a blow to the stomach. Everything was deliberately sacrificed to the ligneous jungle; by now the condition of this monument was such that it was useless to try to restore it.
By scraping the mould from the stones, one could discover the high level of greatness achieved by the majestic Ta Prohm eight centuries ago. It was Jayavarmn VII who had it built in honour of his mother. Dwelling there was a numerous religious and social hierarchy, which from historical documents seems to have been composed of 18 archpriests, 2,740 officiants, more than 2,002 assistants, and 615 celestial dancers; and also registered in the reliable accounts was the consumption of 165,744 candles, as well as the inventory of the treasure locked up in the strongboxes, which included: 5 tons of silver, 35 diamonds, 45 thousand pearls and 4500 precious stones. For the upkeep of the temple of Ta Prohm the king thought of creating a territory formed of 3,140 villages with the ambient countryside, in which about 80 thousand people would be working.
At that time Mouhot was in Siam for the Royal Geographical Society of London. He had heard talk of a mysterious city hidden in the heart of the Cambodian forest, but no one, not even the rather superstitious locals, dared to venture
...
See photographs from:
Cambodia Gallery
