8th Wonder of the World, Angkor Wat Surpassing Italy’s Pompeii
Context: Angkor Wat, situated in Cambodia, has been recognized as the 8th Wonder of the World, surpassing Italy’s Pompeii. The title ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ is informally given to remarkable new buildings, projects, or designs.
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About Angkor Wat Temple
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Angkor Wat is a temple complex located in Siem Reap, Northern Cambodia.
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It is also known as Yasodharapura.
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It is the largest religious monument globally, covering 1,200 square meters.
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It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest religious structure.
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It derived from the Khmer word 'nokor' (kingdom) and Sanskrit 'nagara' (city).
Historical Background
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Angkor Wat Temple was constructed in the 12th century as a Hindu temple by Khmer Emperor Suryavarman II.
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It was initially dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and later transitioned into a Buddhist temple.
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It took about 30 years to build this complex in the capital of the Khmer Empire. At first, it was dedicated to a Hindu god named Vishnu. But later, it became a Buddhist temple.
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A long time ago, a Portuguese friar named Antonio de Madalena visited Angkor Wat in 1586. Then, in the 1840s, a French explorer named Henri Mouhot found it again and told everyone how amazing it was. He said it was even more impressive than what Greece or Rome left behind.
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The French fixed up Angkor Wat for tourists in the early 1900s. But later, wars in Cambodia, like the Cambodian Civil War and the Khmer Rouge rule, caused some damage.
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Cambodia got control of Angkor Wat when it became independent from France in 1953. In 1992, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means it’s really special and important. Now, lots of people visit every year, especially in the early morning to see the beautiful sunrise over the temple
Cultural Importance
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It is home to the famous eight-armed Vishnu statue, revered locally as a protective deity.
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The transition from Hinduism to Buddhism is reflected in the temple's intricate carvings, depicting Hindu and Buddhist mythologies.
Architectural Brilliance
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The temple is constructed primarily using sandstone blocks.
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It has a 15-foot-high wall and moat for protection.
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It has bas-reliefs depicting Hindu and Buddhist deities and narratives.
- The central temple complex symbolizes Mount Meru, a sacred mountain in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.
The Seven Wonders of the World
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7 Wonders of the World
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Place
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Description |
| The Colosseum |
Rome, Italy |
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It is also the largest amphitheatre in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
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It was constructed about 80 CE.
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Commissioned during the first century of the Roman Empire by the Flavian emperors.
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Machu Picchu
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Cuzco Region, Peru
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- It was built as an Incan estate for the emperor Pachacuti in the 15th century, and it is approximately 8,000 feet (2,430 metres) above sea level.
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Petra
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Ma’an, Jordan |
- A miracle city carved out of rock was built in 312 BCE.
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| Taj Mahal |
Agra, India |
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Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, built a stunning tomb to remember the death of his wife Mumtaj Mahal.
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Its construction began in 1632.
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Cristo Redentor (OR) Christ the Redeemer Statue
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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Great Wall of China
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China |
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It is 6,259 kilometres (3,889 miles) long.
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The oldest predecessors of the Great Wall of China were most likely built somewhere in the 7th century B.C.E., and it has since been gradually expanded.
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Chichén Itzá
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Yucatán, Mexico |
- This Mayan pyramid was built before Christopher Columbus for many hundred years.
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By: Shubham Tiwari