Angkor Wat's five temple tops get read as a five-element scheme here: the four classical elements plus quintessence, forming the completed structure at the center 🛕
The video invokes Khmer cosmology of Mount Meru, in which creation emerges from the cosmic mountain into ordered structure.
The same reading is applied to Mount Nemrut's five colossal seated statues, where the central and largest figure is interpreted as spirit or quintessence animating the supporting elements. In that scheme, the artificial summit cone becomes the earthly image of structure emerging out of creation, with the solstice-facing terraces representing the spectrum of creation.
A nice parallel to draw between Angkor and Nemrut! 🏛️
Sources
The Hidden Temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodiaemerald.cruisesStep off the beaten path at Angkor Wat - discover the sacred Buddhist temples of Cambodia, from Bayon's faces to Banteay Srei's pink ...
How I Saw 10 Temples in Angkor in Just One Daypagetraveller.com1. Angkor Wat · 2. Srah Srang · 3. Ta Prohm · 4. Ta Keo · 5. Angkor Thom · 6. Bayon · 7. Baphuon · 8. Preah Pithu.
Angkor Waten.wikipedia.orgAngkor Wat is a Theravada Buddhist temple complex, originally built as a Vaishnava Hindu temple, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is the largest religious complex ...
Top Five Temples at Angkor Wat, Cambodiamudskipperpress.comThe temple of Bayon itself is characterised by multiple four-sided towers topped by carved faces, each smiling down benignly upon their modern- ...
Angkor Wat & the Temple Citiestravelcuriousoften.comAt the center of Angkor Thom is a large, ornate structure with 54 small towers, each of which is topped with a gigantic, four-sided smiling Buddha — in other ...
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