The restoration of ancient temples reveals significant insights into historical craftsmanship and timelines. The use of lacquer on sculpture, along with inscriptions referencing a queen mother, allows for precise dating of restorations to the late sixteenth century. Noteworthy is the rapid construction of certain structures, such as the cathedrals in Europe that typically took two to three centuries to complete, contrasting sharply with the remarkably swift 32-year timeline for Ancl Wat, highlighting its unique status in architectural history. This indicates not only advanced building techniques but also the significance of the monument itself.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the largest and arguably the most astonishing religious structure on Earth, built for Suryavarman II in the 12th Century in modern-day Cambodia. It is said to have more stone in it than the Great Pyramid of Giza, and much of the surface is intricately carved and remarkably well preserved. For the last 900 years Angkor Wat has been a centre of religion, whether Hinduism, Buddhism or Animism or a combination of those, and a source of wonder to Cambodians and visitors from around the world.
With
Piphal Heng
Postdoctoral scholar at the Cotsen Institute and the Programme for Early Modern Southeast Asia at UCLA
Ashley Thompson
Hiram W Woodward Chair of Southeast Asian Art at SOAS University of London
And
Simon Warrack
A stone conservator who has worked extensively at Angkor Wat
Producer: Simon Tillotson