One of the unique and perhaps remarkable aspects of Angkor was the system of
"barays" that were built. A baray is a large reservoir for storing water.
The first of these was built at a site called Roulos in the
9th century. It measured 3,200 by 750 meters and might have been used
to store rainwater for use during the dry season for growing rice. The next
baray that was built was even larger - measuring 7,000 by 1,800 meters. This
baray probably required 6,000 workers three years to build.
But the actual purpose of these barays is a controversial subject. Inscriptions
found in Angkor show that they had religious significance. However, the 13th
century Chinese emissary that lived at Angkor also reported that Angkor had
three and four rice harvests per year, something that would not have been
possible without irrigation. Early theories of Angkor assumed that the barays
were part of a network of interconnected canals.
The name Angkor comes from the sanscrit word "nagara" and means holy city.
The generally accepted dates of the Angkor culture are 802-1432 AD.
Ta Prohm is one of my favorite sites among the Angkor Wat temples.
There are a lot of stones and rubble from some of the
structures that have collapsed over the many centuries, but despite the trees
that are growing through many of the walls, much of Ta Prohm is still in excellent
condition.
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Some of the shapes that the trees have taken as they've grown among these
ruins are interesting.
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In some cases, I think the ruins are now held together by the trees that have
grown around them. These are roots that have grown horizontally across the top of
this wall.
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