The Civilization of Angkor - Couverture rigide

Higham, Charles

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0520234421 ISBN 13 : 9780520234420

Editeur : University of California Press, 2002

Synopsis

In the late sixteenth century a mythical encounter was reported during an elephant hunt in the dense north of the Tonle Sap, or Great Lake of central Cambodia. King Satha of Cambodia and his retainers were beating a path through the undergrowth when they were halted by stone giants and a massive wall. The King, the fable reported, ordered six thousand men to clear away the forest overgrowth around the wall, thereby exposing the city of Angkor - 'lost' for over a century. Subsequent reports from Portuguese missionaries described its five gateways, with bridges flanked by stone figures leading across a moat. There were idols covered in gold, inscriptions, fountains, canals, and a 'temple with five towers, called Angor'.For four centuries, this huge complex has inspired awe among visitors from all over the world, but only now are its origins and history becoming clear. This book begins with the development of the prehistoric communities of the area and draws on the author's recent excavations to portray the rich and expansive chiefdoms that existed at the dawn of civilization. It covers the origins of early states, up to the establishment, zenith, and decline of this extraordinary civilization, whose most impressive achievement was the construction of the gilded temple mausoleum of Angkor Wat in the twelfth century, allegedly by 70,000 people. Drawing on the latest research on prehistoric archaeology, epigraphy, and art history, Charles Higham has written a clear and concise history of this remarkable civilization.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

A short history of the ancient civilization of Angkor, home to the spectacular temple of Angkor Wat.

In the late sixteenth century a mythical encounter was reported on an elephant hunt in the dense jungle north of the Tonle Sap, or Great Lake, of central Cambodia. King Satha of Cambodia and his retainers were beating a path through the undergrowth when they were halted by stone giants, and then a massive wall. The King, the fable reported, ordered 6,000 men to bring down the wall, thereby exposing the city of Angkor 'lost' for over a century.

Subsequent reports from Portuguese missionaries described its four gateways, with bridges flanked by stone figures leading across a moat. There were idols covered in gold, inscriptions, fountains, canals, and 'a temple with five towers, called Angor [sic]'. For four centuries, this huge complex has inspired awe amongst visitors from all over the world, but only now are its origins and history becoming clear.

This book begins with the progress of the prehistoric communities of the area and draws on the author¿s recent excavations to portray the rich and expansive chiefdoms that existed at the dawn of civilization. It covers the origins of early states, up to the establishment, zenith and decline of this extraordinary civilization, whose most impressive achievement was the construction of the gilded temple mausoleum of Angkor Wat, in the twelfth century, allegedly by 70,000 people.

Quatrième de couverture

In the late sixteenth century a mythical encounter was reported on an elephant hunt in the dense jungle north of the Great Lake of central Cambodia. King Satha and his retainers were beating a path through the undergrowth when they were halted by stone giants and a massive wall. The King, the fable reported, ordered 6,000 men to clear away the jungle, thereby exposing the city of Angkor - 'lost' for over a century. Subsequent reports from Portuguese missionaries described its four gateways, with bridges flanked by stone figures leading across a moat. There were idols covered in gold, inscriptions, fountains, canals, and 'a temple with five towers, called Angor'. For four centuries, this huge complex has inspired awe amongst visitors from all over the world, but only now are its origins and history becoming clear. Drawing on the latest research on prehistoric archaeology, epigraphy and art history, Charles Higham has written a clear and concise history of this remarkable civilization.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: University of California Press
• Date d'édition: 2002
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0520234421
• ISBN 13: 9780520234420
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 207
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible