Angkor: Celestial Temples of the Khmer (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ian W. Mabbett (Author), James Goodman (Author), Ian Mabbett (Author), Eleanor Mannikka (Author), John Sanday (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An exquisitely illustrated history and exploration of Angkor, the world's most astonishing architectural treasure.

Built between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries by a succession of twelve Khmer kings, Angkor spreads over 120 square miles in Southeast Asia and includes scores of major architectural sites. In 802, when construction began on Angkor Wat, with wealth from rice and trade, Jayavarman ll took the throne, initiating an unparalleled period of artistic and architectural achievement, exemplified in the fabled ruins of Angkor, center of the ancient empire. Among the amazing pyramid and mandala shaped shrines preserved in the jungles of Cambodia, is Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple, an extraordinarily complex structure filled with iconographic detail and religious symbolism. Perhaps because of the decline of agricultural productivity and the expansion of the Thai Empire, Angkor was abandoned in the fifteenth century and left to the ravages of time. Today, many countries continue efforts to conserve and restore the temples, which have been inaccessible until recently. Now that the civil war has ended, Angkor is being reborn and is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Undaunted by the difficulties of traveling through Cambodia and eastern Thailand, Jon Ortner, accompanied by his wife Martha, has photographed fifty of the most important and unique monuments of the Khmer Empire. His images include spectacular views from the rooftops of its temples, glorious landscapes, and details of inscriptions and art that few have ever seen.

The text by a team of distinguished experts provides historical, architectural, and religious analyses of Angkor and the Khmer civilization. The Appendix offers a glossary, a chronology of construction, and a chart of the kings and their accomplishments. Black-and-white floor plans and historic watercolors complete this breathtaking tribute.

Other details: 240 illustrations, 225 in full color

About the Author

Jon Ortner has been passionately photographing in Asia for twenty-five years. His images have appeared in several books including Abbeville's Sacred Places of Asia: Where Every Breath Is a Prayer. John Sanday is a restoration architect and has been Director of the World Monuments Fund in Cambodia since 1989. Ian Mabbett, a leading authority on Khmer history and religion, is the author of The Khmers. James Goodman is a scholar and researcher on the Khmer and their use of water. Eleanor Mannikka is the author of Angkor Wat: Time, Space and Kingship about the calendrical significance of Angkor Wat. Kerya Chau Sun is a director at the APSARA Authority which controls the tourist development of the monuments at Angkor.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1st edition (April 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789207184
• ISBN-13: 978-0789207180
• Product Dimensions: 13.6 x 10.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #258,458 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Cambodia
  #22 in	Books > History > Asia > Cambodia
  #27 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > International > Asian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost as magnificent as seeing the ruins themselves, May 11, 2003

By	A. Lam (Grimsby, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having spent some time recently in Cambodia exploring the Angkor ruins, I looked forward to purchasing this new picture book by celebrated photographer Jon Ortner. I was not disappointed. The photographs literally come alive. The quality of the paper is extremely good; the colour reproduction and sharpness of the pictures are superb.

The author chose a broad selection of the ruins to be included in his coffee table size text. All the famous sites are included, as well as a number of the lesser known monuments. The essays written by experts in the field also added a lot of useful and interesting background information. Several maps also aid the reader in locating the ruins.

For those who have seen Angkor, this book is almost a must. I am certain the owner will refer to these awesome photographs time and time again to remind himself of the experience of viewing some of the most incredible architecture and art in the history of mankind.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Book on Angkor Temples, February 1, 2004

By	Jill Cremer (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Through his magical photographic eye, Jon Ortner has created a wondrous collection of striking images and scholarly prose. His perfectly lit photographs and well-documented historic descriptions allow one to easily understand this complicated ancient subject. Each temple is clearly organized into relevant sections from the central Angkor area to the rare and never-before-seen temples in the outer lying areas. If you have visited Angkor - Ortner's book is the perfect addition to your library. Or, if you have not visited, this book provides the perfect impetus.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars See it in person if you can., March 6, 2003

By	R. ARANT "toun" (Lanesville, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Top quality photographs of one of the true wonders of the world in one of the few remaining truly exotic countries. The craftsmanship and presentation are top notch, but nothing short of making the trip in person is really satisfactory. Fortunately, the trip is relatively safe in these days when even domestic travel has its risks.