Angkor Wat Architecture

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“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” By David Allan Coe The quotation above means that the beauty of a building is not as important as the construction of the prototypes of its structure. Basically, the development of its foundations and techniques are more important than those of its attractiveness. Meanwhile, Angkor Wat and Pyramids of Giza are two ancient buildings that are able to continue its legacies to the contemporary world. Angkor Wat and the Pyramids of Giza are the examples of the external and internal beauties in which its structures were completed by their respective developed foundation which includes the techniques, social structures,…show more content…
First, both of these structures were made by huge stone blocks. As stated by Gayle (2012), “The 12th century temple complex, Angkor Wat, is built from five to ten million sandstone blocks weighing up to 1.5 tons that were hewn from quarries at the base of nearby Mount Kulen.” Likewise, the pyramids of Giza also used huge stone blocks as well (Löhner, 2006). As mentioned by Löhner (2006), Khufu, the biggest pyramid of Giza, were structured by more than twenty five hundred thousand stone blocks and each blocks weighted up to 10 tones. Second, Angkor Wat and Giza are located near huge irrigation systems which facilitated them in the movement of material to the construction sites (Löhner, 2006). Angkor Wat was constructed with complex irrigation systems surrounding it that was believed to facilitate the transportation of materials to the site especially huge blocks (Gary, 2012). Similarly, as mentioned by Löhner (2006), as the Pyramids of Giza located near the Nile River hence boats were used to transport the stone blocks to the building. Conversely, the authenticities of their designs are different. Particularly, Angkor Wat’s…show more content…
To begin with, Angkor Wat and Giza were built during different levels of development regarding its society. Angkor Wat was constructed during the Khmer empire which was the period when it is the major power in its region (UNESCO Angkor Wat, 2014). King Jiyavarman II, who created the foundations of the Khmer Empire, has led the Khmer empire to become a dominant power in south-east Asia for nearly five centuries (UNESCO Angkor Wat, 2014). However, ancient Egyptians completed the pyramids of Giza during the old empire which was the starting point of the creations of Egyptians development and dynasty (Beers, 1983, p.23). As mentioned by Beers (1983, p.23), first dynasty that was established in Egypt were the Menes, who united the upper and lower Egypt and reestablished a new ruling system which period known as the old kingdom. During the old kingdom, the pharaoh, or the great house, has absolute control and organized Egypt into a strong centralized government (Beers, 1983, p.23). Next, the citizens in the both periods are strongly believed in their religions that assisted in the completion of the two structures. Suryavarman II, who was the mastermind of the construction, strongly believed in Hinduism which followed by his citizens that can be seen through the carvings of Vishnu, one of the

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