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Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Stories etched in stone
Angkor Wat has been an important Buddhist centre through most of its nearly 900-year history, so why is it covered in stone-carved scenes of Hindu mythology? The complex was built in 1150 CE under king Suryavarman II, a devotee of the Khmer Empire's traditional Hinduism. Within just a few decades – two kings and an enemy invasion later – the new Buddhist monarch Jayavarman VII began rededicating the temple to his own religion. Though some Hindu elements were removed, many remain – Bas-reliefs depict multitudes of apsaras and other Hindu figures, covering more than 1,115 square metres of the structure.
Stories etched in stone
Angkor Wat has been an important Buddhist centre through most of its nearly 900-year history, so why is it covered in stone-carved scenes of Hindu mythology? The complex was built in 1150 CE under king Suryavarman II, a devotee of the Khmer Empire's traditional Hinduism. Within just a few decades – two kings and an enemy invasion later – the new Buddhist monarch Jayavarman VII began rededicating the temple to his own religion. Though some Hindu elements were removed, many remain – Bas-reliefs depict multitudes of apsaras and other Hindu figures, covering more than 1,115 square metres of the structure.
© Artie Photography (Artie Ng) / Moment / Getty Images 2026-09-11 08:45:52 :