[Talk] Interpreting Iconography at East Mebon

Webinar by Dr Sophie Biard hosted by the Centre for Khmer Studies on Friday. Registration link below.

The temples of Angkor as we see them today give only a partial view of their former state. Throughout centuries, lootings and occupations have upset their furnishings, and much archaeological research has been terminated, thus separating the scarce remaining items from their original context. Nonetheless, architecture and iconography still in situ together with archaeological finds, now kept in collections and museums, still provide clues of their past appearance and uses.

Focusing on East Mebon temple, this presentation is an essay of the recontextualization of its archaeological remains. Constructed in the 10th c., East Mebon displays a series of lintel collections in place. Statues and cult paraphernalia as well as an important inscription, the stela K. 528, were found.

This study aims to cross-references artifacts and their iconography with archaeological, epigraphical, historical, and architectural analysis data. It also includes comparisons with Indian art and textual sources that have influenced Angkorian culture. The goal is to apply a methodology of reading of the temple and observe the outcome.

This lecture presents the preliminary results of postdoctoral research conducted with a CKS fellowship in 2020 and 2021.

Source: Webinar Registration – Zoom