A temple saved from the waters : the restoration of the Western Mebon in Angkor

The film "Angkor, un temple sauvé des eaux, la restauration du Mebon occidental" [Angkor, a temple saved from the waters, the restoration of the Western Mebon] relates the major stages of the restoration work carried out by the EFEO and the Cambodian authority APSARA (Authority for the Protection of the Site and the Development of the Region) from 2013 to May 2018. The restorations and excavations associated with this site have provided a better understanding of the special place occupied by the Western Mebon, a temple dating from the 11th century, during the Angkorian period.
A unique work in the history of the Angkor temples, the Mebon is an ambitious project, a symbiosis of architecture and engineering, stone and water, a religious development that makes these hydraulic structures sacred. Testimony to its complex and still partly enigmatic history, the large bronze statue of a Vishnu was discovered there. It was a monumental representation of the myth of the creation of the world, resting on a snake in the middle of the primordial ocean.

[@kimsthetropicalfruitshunte9092]

I'm Cambodian Australian I been to the west Mebon Baray twice..I'm really honor for you helping to restore my ancestors political and religious monuments, Ankorian temple are full of prophecy and teaching in the khmer Sanskrit writing drawings on the walls, stairs of temple to remind the khmer children to love each other then fight each other to save the Khmer heritage and people from extinct or invaded by foreigners.. Thats why if Cambodia have war the ruin will destroyed if peace it will be restored to its former glorious..

[@vaagai9808]

Angkor Wat straight up looks right out of fantasy novel. Myself hailing from South India, am familiar with the architecture but Angkor Wat is definitely something special.

[@Bullfy890]

I always find of extreme ignorance that humanity spends trillions of money in weapons and wars and yet people that want to uncover our world heritage and history are still fighting to rebuild and save that same history ! This should be of interest of all of us on the Planet, we should support every find and every endeavor to uncover more of our mysterious past that we still don't know but yet here we are in the years 2000 watching this fantastic people fight against Nature and Greed to give us all another small part of that lost Mankind History ! It is sad and at the same time encouraging to see that in our world at least we still have people that want to know real lost facts in our history ! Thanks for the video !

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@vichai2121]

Thank you for your rebuild Mebon temple. We love you and respectful.❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@lawsonconnell]

I am overwhelmed and so inspired by all of the hard and painstaking work carried out on the site by what appears to be a generational team who have done a magnificent job for the world to see for many decades. I am in awe of you all and the sites that you are so dedicated to. I managed to visit at 60 fulfilling a lifelong dream of walking and touching the actual temples and bare stone. Thank you all.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support. We hope you enjoy the discovery of all these wonderful temples!

[@thearitha7975]

Thanks for your hard working to save temples in Cambodia. 🙏🙏🙏❤️

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@angeaelibou6073]

"And today, God has said it to Prophet Kacou Philippe on April 24, 1993. And if you are a child of God, it is in him, Kacou Philippe that you must believe to be saved. And if you really have the Holy Spirit, this Holy Spirit will lead you to him, the prophet of your time, as one day, this Holy Spirit led Cornelius to Peter who had the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [Ed: The congregation says, “Amen!”]. And if you must serve God, it is to echo what Prophet Kacou Philippe, the living prophet of your time, says. And this is the only thing you can do." #PKPCHANNELTV

[@abk706]

I wish we could do the same in India. May Lord Vishnu bless you.

[@mrdhaliwal8228]

We do, it’s called Taj- Mahal. It’s a sister temple. Compare them, even the tomb

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment. Do the same in India? In which way? To have fascinating archaeological complexes? There are plenty of them : Kajuraho, Mahabalipuram, Sanci, Udayagiri, Konarak... for exemple. Restore monuments? This is also done thanks to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

[@Eadyt87]

Vishnu CAN'T BLESS anybody if he even exists!

[@angeaelibou6073]

"And today, God has said it to Prophet Kacou Philippe on April 24, 1993. And if you are a child of God, it is in him, Kacou Philippe that you must believe to be saved. And if you really have the Holy Spirit, this Holy Spirit will lead you to him, the prophet of your time, as one day, this Holy Spirit led Cornelius to Peter who had the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [Ed: The congregation says, “Amen!”]. And if you must serve God, it is to echo what Prophet Kacou Philippe, the living prophet of your time, says. And this is the only thing you can do." #PKPCHANNELTV

[@hf..7271]

I’m Khmericain my grandparent recall that Khmer Kings were a powerful people during Ancient Angkorian Civilization. This magnificent Temple that stand in the middle of the water out of nowhere it’s a mind blowing architectural and astonishing construction . I’m wishing more that Cambodia Govnment could work on this project and bring out more revenues to welcome visitors to come and adorn this Khmers Ancient treasure . I love my country of Cambodia it has deep roots and riches histories .

[@panhachea5663]

Thank you thank you for your hard work may God bless you all🙏🙏🙏

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment!

[@PISETHSurvival]

I'm really appreciated your hard working with my wonderful temple. Big love to you all

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@sssienghai6912]

My respect to the team and Mr. Pascal ! Ur goodness will be bless by all peoples.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your concern

[@munisotaram]

សូមជូនពរដល់ក្រុមការងារជួសជុលប្រសាទបុរាណ បានទទួលជោគជ័យ និងមានសុខភាពល្អ !!!

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@animalscute3661]

Thank you for restoration Angkor Temples

[@EFEO]

Thank your for your comment and your support!

[@jackket6708]

C'est tellement merveilleux de voir la restauration du temple de Mebon de l'ouest avec l'aide de la France. Aussi notre condoleance et gratitude au feu Mr. Pascal Royere.

[@jackket6708]

C'est tellement merveilleux de voir me travail de restauration du temple

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest!

[@longallery]

I wanna say too billion thank from deep heart to Pascal Royere R.I.P

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support. Yes, we miss him very much.

[@chaksom355]

លោកគ្រូ

[@sjoginpally]

Sleeping Vishnu and Naga ... the idol would be either AnanthaPadmanabha Swamy ( worlds wealthiest temple in Thirvanthapuram) or Ranganayakulu swamy ( Srirangam temple) who are both avatars of Lord Vishnu. Googling images will help. 🙏🙏🙏

[@VivianCastillo]

Awesome share!

[@ngangsom2909]

May Lord VISHNU bless you all. 🙏

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment.

[@arunsubramanian3945]

Thank you France for funding it and also subtitle in English ....so it reaches to the most people's...

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@raulguzman2314]

Such a beautiful structure and such commendable efforts to reconstruct it.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@icula9857]

@@EFEO ៀៀឲ ឲឲ ឲឲ

[@amarpatne5794]

Bhagwan Mahavishnu bless you all ❤️☮️🙏

[@oudomsor811]

Thank You very much 🙏🏻🇰🇭

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support

[@Shareworld2024]

I love angkor wat in cambodia. thanks sharing knowledge.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest

[@yuthin3774]

AMAZING DOCUMENTARY AND I'M SO GLAD IT'S NOT ANOTHER ONE ABOUT ANGKOR WAT! WE LITERALLY HAVE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TEMPLE RUINS THAT NEEDS RESTORATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND FILMING ON!

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest !

[@dellingson4833]

when you look at the map at 1:38 there are straight lines or canals all over like the one the temple is in. Ever get the idea some of these ancient sites are way older than history tells us. Great work by the way. Not to often do you feel this kind of emotion watching a documentary very powerful.

[@EFEO]

Hello, thank you for your comment.

[@khmerminnesota3952]

Thank you France 🇫🇷

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

from a ruin that was all but forgotten to a place that will soon be a huge tourist spot - u all did an amazing job

[@EFEO]

Hello, thank you for your support!

[@gopals1055]

This is the exact replica of God Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi abode ‘VIKUNTAM’. Blessed are those people who involved in preserving and restoration. This is just amazing & incredible.

[@yuzosry5953]

My respect to the team and Mr. Pascal and EFEO .

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment!

[@w.m.p-w8989]

This is great work. Thanks for sharing.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support.

[@KhmerPenn]

Love it so very much. USA

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@Nowseemypoint]

That's a beautiful place, i heard nature 😍

[@thournmam16]

so beautiful Cambodia I love my country ❤❤❤❤❤❤💋

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment. And you have every reason to love it.

[@poomvpro4947]

កម្ពុជា🇰🇭😍😍

[@PremSingh-fy8uc]

Salute to restoration team. May Lord Vishnu bless you.

[@linlynleen39]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭 Thank you for sharing

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment.

[@chealeng9407]

@@EFEO ⅞yybvvgggfygyytt

[@m.rakesh7157]

Worlds biggest hindu temple✨️👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻🙏🏻

[@pierrepy2931]

Quel plaisir de voir un pays qui fait tout ce qu'il peut pour sauvegarder voire reconstruire son patrimoine quand tant d'autres préfèrent empiler des pierres numérotées

[@JueGu76]

i wish i can come to this place someday - magnificent job - done in short time though it was done decades by the original people - great great great job restoring it the angkorwat!

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment! We also hope you will have the opportunity to discover the wonders of the region of Angkor! I precise that the documentary is about the restoration of West Mebon which is north-west of Angkor Wat in the middle of the western Baray.

[@samorn7447]

ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់កម្ពុជា

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@kuytrychet1431]

អរគុណ​❤️

[@putheksethofficial9366]

So beautiful. Thank you for sharing. 💖💖

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest!

[@thtvkhmer4372]

Like Cambodia

[@Electronicview]

very good for share Angkor temple

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest

[@powerplay8355]

What an incredible feat. Thank you to all involved.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@angeaelibou6073]

"And today, God has said it to Prophet Kacou Philippe on April 24, 1993. And if you are a child of God, it is in him, Kacou Philippe that you must believe to be saved. And if you really have the Holy Spirit, this Holy Spirit will lead you to him, the prophet of your time, as one day, this Holy Spirit led Cornelius to Peter who had the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [Ed: The congregation says, “Amen!”]. And if you must serve God, it is to echo what Prophet Kacou Philippe, the living prophet of your time, says. And this is the only thing you can do." #PKPCHANNELTV

[@janardansingh5926]

Extraordinary restoration work ! Thankyou for preserving the greatest architectural legacy of mankind 🙏

[@EFEO]

Hello, thank you for your support and comment!

[@angeaelibou6073]

"And today, God has said it to Prophet Kacou Philippe on April 24, 1993. And if you are a child of God, it is in him, Kacou Philippe that you must believe to be saved. And if you really have the Holy Spirit, this Holy Spirit will lead you to him, the prophet of your time, as one day, this Holy Spirit led Cornelius to Peter who had the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [Ed: The congregation says, “Amen!”]. And if you must serve God, it is to echo what Prophet Kacou Philippe, the living prophet of your time, says. And this is the only thing you can do." #PKPCHANNELTV

[@oukrojano7390]

ស្អាតណាស់ ព្រះអើយ

[@RandomTraveler404]

I was hearing West Mebon is recently being restored. I wonder whether the restoration is complete? I am planning to visit it again after my last visit 5 years ago.

[@EFEO]

Hello, no the restoration is not complete. The site can, perhaps, be visited but only outside the work site, you must check with the boatmen. If you want to visit the work site, you must check in advance with authority in charge of the work site, the APSARA.

[@acinomletap1]

Nice team of people working on the restoration project of Kaundinya-Soma's love story. Hopefully some day Indians are able to contribute to the teams efforts too.

[@poomvpro4947]

កនៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជារកឃើញហើយ🇰🇭❤️

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment!

[@danyccop4297]

Thank you so much for helping us on this. Love from Cambodia ❤️😇

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@user-wc1yo6oh6m]

I love cambodia thank you🙏🙏

[@user-nv8tu1dq1l]

thank you that you love me

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@khoosengkuang3575]

Thank you France for restoration one of humankind ancient history .❤🇫🇷 🇰🇮

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@Net_NOU]

Thank you so much

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support.

[@thearitha7975]

Great temple ❤️

[@EFEO]

We agree!

[@user-lf8ze1yv4r]

@@EFEO អាង

[@vaibhaviv875]

This site difficult to save from creepers and trees thanks for those who work hard for trying to save remaining temple

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@1xplorer]

Thanks 🙏 That’s my country 🇰🇭

[@rasta36]

Beautiful Lord shiva temple 🙏

[@oudomloeum3229]

It's dedicated to Preah Vishnu. In the temple there was the large bronze statue of Vishnu which is now in the National museum.

[@kukthomas]

My heartfelt gratitude towards EFEO and the late Pascal Royere for your dedication in restoring ruins in Cambodia.

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@jeffreybail353]

hi guys research old world tartaria you can still see remains from this civilisation all over the world in all big cities and towns, its amazing

[@narmheang]

merci beaucoup🙏🙏🙏 🇫🇷 ❤️ 🇰🇭

[@kimshae2920]

Thanks for restoration

[@goldenmaxvael8709]

God job thanks for sharing us .

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support.

[@gaemlinsidoharthi]

This is all so impressive. Hopefully, future populations will recognise all the effort that has been made and the restrictions under which the teams had to operate. The future is always uncertain. Hopefully, there will not be a future entertainment industry, a “Khmerwood” perhaps, making money from pushing the story to spoiled future generations, of oppressive French colonialists who came in and ruined everything, profiting from grandiose, ludicrous fictions of the heroic locals who fought against them and drove them out. Then again, hopefully there will not be a sweeping infection of a religion - professing peace, but practicing actual oppression, violence and the destruction of each culture it subsumes.

[@TongTong-hy1hd]

ស្រឡាញ់ខ្លាំងណាស់ព្រះអង្គ

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support

[@user-br6hy7yp4s]

យី! អោយបានគឺជាកម្ពុជា🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@rinasodasok]

thank you so much

[@EFEO]

Thank for your comment!

[@AhzzHeng]

Bon documents vidéo. Mercy

[@EFEO]

Merci pour votre commentaire !

[@AhzzHeng]

Moi aussi.

[@moutmaimoutmai8838]

I Love Cambodai😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@dat4949]

thanks for the documentary/film

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your interest

[@chanmalymeas6499]

God bless Cambodian people😇

[@laykhom3212]

What an Amazing restoration job Awesome

[@EFEO]

Hello, thank you for your comment!

[@rothapov3102]

🇰🇭❤️️🇫🇷🙏🙏🙏 Merci beaucoup

[@headara4372]

Many thanks, and we need to support…

[@EFEO]

Thank your for your comment and your support!

[@jaitapurcsc]

प्रभु सभी संस्कृति रक्षको पर अपनी कृपा बनाए रखे

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@crAZNimal]

whao... I've never seen this before . that look amazing. artificial island temple

[@pitersnow7728]

Cambodia kingdom of wonders 🇰🇭❤️️

[@chealida168]

What temple cell ?

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@m.rakesh7157]

Om namo bhagvate vasudevaya ✨️🌷🌷🌷🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@napichchanvorleak9814]

Very nice ❤😍😍

[@EFEO]

Thank your for your comment!

[@napichchanvorleak9814]

welcome to cambodia kingdom of wonder ❤👏

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment!

[@cheathet8605]

thanks 🙏

[@ChanChenny]

Cambodia🇰🇭

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment.

[@mikemurray2145]

Would not be surprised if there's was a lot more hiding under the water

[@chansopheahang307]

Je vous remercie beaucoup MR Pascal Boyère 🙏 est consecrez votre vie pour notre pay 🙏🙏🙏 Mes cordialement

[@EFEO]

Merci de votre commentaire et de votre intérêt. Pascal Royère nous manque beaucoup.

[@deepblue3682]

Hope they can reconstruct hampi site in india... bateswar temples is getting reconstructed

[@MokaTelevisiIndonesia]

Keren,,,,

[@taksolo]

cambodia 🇰🇭♥️♥️♥️

[@cambowildanimals6588]

So amazing

[@PatSophal]

great job

[@EFEO]

Thank you !

[@chanpunleuthorn5815]

May your soul resting in a good place sir.Pascal

[@phengkimving]

The video title is misleading. The temple that is saved from the waters is Mebon, not Angkor. Mebon is 1 of dozens of temples in the area, of which Angkor is the most magnificent and best known.

[@EFEO]

I understand your misunderstanding, but the Western Mebon is part of Angkor just like Angkor Wat, which is certainly the most famous temple of the region. Angkor is the city that houses all these temples. So strictly speaking, the title is correct: we relate the major stages of the restoration work of the Western Mebon, one of the temples of Angkor. We have modified the title to make it clearer.

[@phengkimving]

@@EFEO, I don't misunderstand. Although I now live in Canada, I'm originally from Cambodia, where in 1975 I was a 2nd-year university student in Phnom Penh. "Angkor Wat" is the full name of the most famous temple, and "Angkor" is its short name, "Angkor Wat" and "Angkor" mean the Angkor Temple (in Cambodian, "Wat", pronounced like the English "what" without the leading sound of the "h", means pagoda). Your video title was misleading because it mislead viewers to think that "Angkor" is the name of the temple that's saved from the waters. Good for you that you've modified the title to try to make it clearer, but it's now ambiguous: is it "Angkor" or is it "The Western Mebon?? If you change "Angkor" to "In Angkor region", then you'll perfectly clarify things.

[@EFEO]

​@@phengkimving We understand. Indeed, Angkor Wat is still too often referred to as just "Angkor", which is an unfortunate shortcut that leads to confusion in the understanding of the names for those who do not know this region of Cambodia. As you know, today, the name "Angkor" refers mainly to the area of the historic capital at the foot of Phnom Bakheng. Officially "Angkor" it's the archaeological park which contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire. We agree, the first title was misleading. Now, the Western Mebon being less known than Angkor Wat we had to specify that it is part of Angkor. In any case, thank you for pointing out this confusion and allowing us to explain it. As a former (or still?) academic, you know that it is important and necessary to use the right terms in order to have a precise and correct discourse. And if this allows people who don't know it to learn that Angkor is not actually (just) Angkor Wat and that there are other temples to discover at Angkor, then that is a bonus!

[@phengkimving]

@@EFEO, Now the title is better. Good for you. Thank you for your response and action. Thank you for your restoration work.

[@user-uh4kv1li6m]

❤️❤️❤️❤️🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@EducationHomeHP]

យើងខ្ញុំជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ(កម្ពុជា) មានសេចក្តីរីករាយ និងកោតស្ញប់ស្ញែងជាពន់ពេកចំពោះស្នាដៃអស្ចារ្យទាំងនេះ។ យើងខ្ញុំសូមអគុណនិងឱទិ្ទសចំពោះវរជនដែលបានពលិកម្មទាំងកម្លាំងកាយ ចិត្ត ប្រាជ្ញា ស្មារតី និងជីវិតពិសេសលោក professor Pascale ។

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your support!

[@vireakroth386]

ជនជាតិបរទេសគាត់ធ្វើការកំណាយល្អខ្ពស់ មូលហេតុគាត់មានឧបករណ៍គ្រប់គ្រាន់ គាត់ដឹងអ្វីត្រូវកំណាយអ្វីមិនគួរកំណាយដូចសត្វមាន់ ទី២គាត់ស្វែងរកនៃគំរប់សត្វនៃមួយៗស្វែងរកបុព្វហេតុត្រឹមត្រូវតាមប្រពៃណីរបស់គាត់

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@bobjuniel8683]

Nagars is a misspelling of Nakas, from nak being the Sanskrit word root for snake. It has been proposed that Angkor Wat was orientated to the star constellation Draco, the dragon or serpent in the sky. Draco is important because it contains Polaris, the North Star at present, which changes in position due to the precession on the equinoxes. Some claim Indian Hindu Princes ruled in South East Asia almost 2,000 years ago. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, written about 5,000 years ago, the snake stole the elixir of life from Enkidu and Shamat, and immediately sloughed his skin. Thus the snake is worshipped as wiser than humans for seeking eternal life by renewing its body, the basis of reincarnation. Enkidu was later equated with Adam and Shamat as Eve in the Torah/Old Testament. To eat of the tree of knowledge gave one eros, making a man a super hero. If he ate of the tree of life he would live forever and become a God. In the Chinese New Year Festival the dragon tries to steal the Pearl of Wisdom from the Goddess Jao Mae Quanyin. Could this allude to the North Star which is not always the same star? 12,000 years ago Vega was in the position of true North, taken by the dragon. Buddhists later credited Quanyin, which means Goddess and also mother of Mercy, as being a Bodhisattva, she has achieved enlightenment like the Buddha. She is normally shown carrying the nectar of life in a vase. Traditionally snake Gods or spirits in the heavens are portrayed with wings. Nakars become Dragons. The great river in the sky is the milky way, and as it snakes across the sky its thousands of eyes (stars) see all good and evil. Therefore this Nakar (Nagar) or snake spirit is the chosen guardian of entrances. The body of the Nakar formed the protective walls of ancient cities and temples. The Nakar is worshipped as the water spirit of great rivers.

[@kolapyellow7631]

Like to see this temple one day.

[@EFEO]

We also hope you will have the opportunity to discover the wonders of the region of Angkor!

[@rd5chennel667]

Good brother

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment

[@uyfghhkowk]

LOVE

[@DarkMoonDroid]

Fascinating!!! It seems to me as tho the Angkor cities were all about the water. They intentionally wanted to control the water. And I think one of the reasons the site was abandoned was the change in water levels because they were micromanaging the water levels to within a few inches. If it went down a few inches, the water completely stopped flowing. And if it went up a few inches, it flooded everything. Larger climate changes would have wrecked it. I know there was political stuff too, but I'm pretty sure this was a big deal. So, it doesn't surprise me that there was a bricked floor under this. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a paved floor under the larger reservoir either. I'm dubious about the sand foundation. But time will tell. I'm curious as to why they didn't temporarily drain and dam the larger reservoir in order to do the work on dry land. Is it because the locals still depend on it? That's the only thing I can think of. It was fun to see the use of metal pins to hold the stones in place. This practice is unknown thousands of years old and has been used all over the planet. I wish you could have shown the older dovetail ones. It was truly inspiring to hear that Pascal Royere helped the workers to Unionize and was mindful of the economic impact of the project to the local community. Exploitation and displacement of local communities and their livelihoods are one of the biggest tragedies of colonialism and also of archeology - which was invented in colonizing cultures. It sounds like he was reversing some of that historical damage. Gods bless him! It is also true that Elites in nearly all ancient and modern cultures exploit and displace _their own people_ in order to build their empires. It is my hope that those who have taken over this project treat these folks well and make sure they are safe and respected and paid a living wage. Bless all! 🙏

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment. Indeed, water played a very important role in the functioning of the Angkor region and studies show that it was its variation that led to the abandonment of the site. Yes it is because the water needs to be stored to allow the irrigation of agricultural plots to the south of the Baray that it wasn't drain and dam.

[@jakesan1680]

RIP... To those had been work hard 😓

[@EFEO]

Thank you for your comment and your concern.