Welcome back to Asia in Science! Today we explore the ancient marvels of Angkor Wat, a monument whose intricate engineering and artistry baffles the modern eye.
Labyrinthine Alignments: The Angkor Wat
Aligning equinoxes and solstices, mastering hydraulic engineering, and sculpting 1200 square meters of bas-reliefs, such is the incredible design of the world’s largest religious monument, the Angkor Wat.
The controversial intersection of science and religion is where humanity’s sheer understanding of life attains a conspicuous standstill. Indubitably, the creation of the majestic Angkor Wat in the 12th century underscores the sheer scale, complexity, and ingenuity of the Khmer Empire’s intellectual prowess.
Built over the course of 30 excruciating years, the Hindu temple’s architectural and engineering innovations had a ripple effect across Asia. It was built by the mighty Hindu ruler, King Suryavarman II. Prominently, the Khmer Empire’s exemplified mastery of large-scale construction through ancient machinery influenced neighbouring Southeast Asian civilisations, such as the Siamese in Thailand.
With its 65-metre-high central tower representing the sacred Mount Meru, the structure stands in modern-day Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was constructed using 5-10 million sandstone blocks, each weighing up to 1.5 tons. Estimations regarding the required labour force, for building the pre-industrial city, go up to 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants.
The temple complex, an architectural marvel, is also an astronomical observatory, with its cardinal directions perfectly aligned with celestial events such as the heliacal rising of Venus and lunar eclipses. The groundbreaking advancements, from the extensive 17.6 square kilometre West Baray reservoir to the bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Ramayan and Mahabharat, exhibit that the Khmers were multifaceted craftsmen.
A labyrinthine network of canals, moats, and reservoirs, Angkor Wat’s 1,000 square kilometre water management system could sustain over 1 million people. Agriculture innovation’s magnum opus, this water management system, originally built to ensure the ruling empire’s longevity, continues to set precedents for future civilisations. Today, its learnings are still relevant in urban city planning, especially in regions dealing with monsoons and seasonal flooding.
Angkor Wat’s beauty is a testament to the unimaginable realm of knowledge its design encompasses.
Thank you for reading my blog! Please stay curious and alert for new blogs on Asian scientific contributions and inventions.
-Mihika Singhania
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