An Illustrated Guide to the Monuments

A mysterious and fascinating site, Angkor offers not only a wealth of astounding architectural structures, but also statues and bas-reliefs of exceptional artistic quality and historical interest.

A true mine of information on Angkor, including results of the latest restoration efforts, this books offers:

a detailed description of Angkor Wat and fifty other temples, palaces and monuments, each presented with its map and, where possible, elevations of principal façades and line drawings of bas-reliefs

historical information on Khmer society and its kings (ninth to thirteenth centuries), religions and rites, the daily life of the Khmer people, the construction of the site, and its subsequent abandonment and rediscovery by the West in the nineteenth century

a foldout map of the overall site and the Roluos group at the back of the guide

a detailed account of Khmer architecture: types of monuments (flat temples, mountain temples), principal structures (enclosures, gopura, sanctuaries, libraries), decorative themes (mythical subjects, representations of nature and animals), as well as the different styles of bas-reliefs and statuary (Brahman, Buddhist)