Book review of Majapahit: Intrigue, Betrayal and War in Indonesia’s Greatest Empire (affiliate link) by Duncan Graham on the Australian Institute of International Affairs
As it is with all legends, the more distant the memory, the greater the reverence and the sketchier the details. This pithy observation comes towards the close of Herald van der Linde’s new history Majapahit, the story of East Java’s golden century and its international clout.
The alert should have been at the start, a warning to politicians everywhere prone to parading the imagined successes of yesteryear to stay in office, forgetting their messy failures and hoping voters do the same.
The Majapahit era (1293-1527) named after the bitter maja (stone apple) fruit of the region, thrived under Emperor Hayam Wuruk (1350-1389), a relatively civilised leader. During his time the epic story/poems of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the wayang kulit puppets, defined Javanese culture and still do.
![This week in Southeast Asian Archaeology: Prambanan gets some renewed attention, Phimai Black pottery surfaces at Mun Bon Dam, and I’m taking a short break next week.⠀
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The featured stories look at the new Indonesia–India conservation project at Prambanan, focusing on the temple complex’s ruined perwara shrines, and a striking Late Prehistoric find in northeast Thailand: a remarkably complete Phimai Black vessel discovered as water levels fell at Mun Bon Dam.⠀
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Temples, pottery, reservoirs, and a little scheduled rest. Back again on 27 July.⠀
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Read this week’s newsletter: [link in bio]⠀
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#SoutheastAsianArchaeology #Archaeology #Heritage #Prambanan #Thailand #Indonesia #Cambodia #Vietnam #CulturalHeritage #Substack This week in Southeast Asian Archaeology: Prambanan gets some renewed attention, Phimai Black pottery surfaces at Mun Bon Dam, and I’m taking a short break next week.⠀
⠀
The featured stories look at the new Indonesia–India conservation project at Prambanan, focusing on the temple complex’s ruined perwara shrines, and a striking Late Prehistoric find in northeast Thailand: a remarkably complete Phimai Black vessel discovered as water levels fell at Mun Bon Dam.⠀
⠀
Temples, pottery, reservoirs, and a little scheduled rest. Back again on 27 July.⠀
⠀
Read this week’s newsletter: [link in bio]⠀
⠀
#SoutheastAsianArchaeology #Archaeology #Heritage #Prambanan #Thailand #Indonesia #Cambodia #Vietnam #CulturalHeritage #Substack](https://scontent-sin6-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/744214042_18361115071209510_2262608560893170251_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=6sQX3E4sDBUQ7kNvwHxXKsb&_nc_oc=AdpJGuVowYZ50Fa6KHSUrhfaE5nvULpqW86r97fxQuHMi2-16NcLn0dSKNc9OIB9XqA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sin6-3.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=VGgzhfA5Ro9SeqRv0JsGYQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGrd2Dl2coFOjebHzUxZzGE0H01zw-3fIhojcM5eF0hXk3Ndvrux0nK9KQFVwEfY2anYN7r6CXy&oh=00_AQCVA8Fge8nmY1MIHcWiT-HkJGsryGqjct8yZIsKTGQOVg&oe=6A5B5671)











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