The Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in Siem Reap province is exhibiting a Large Pillar of Buddhism in Bayon style, probably created during the late 12th century AD, for the public, students, and researchers to see and study, said the APSARA National Authority (ANA)’s news release this morning.
The guide of the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum, Mr. Voeun Vibol Sokhom, said that the sandstone pillar of Buddhism found in an excavation was named “Thousand Buddhas”, a rare artifact of Khmer art.
Mr. Vibol Sokhom explained that the special feature of this sandstone pillar is that there are 1008 small Buddha images carved on its four sides, which represent the happiness of the universe.
He added that two types of religious sculptures have been found in Cambodia: the first was the Large Pillar of Buddhism on display at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in Siem Reap, and the other was a Brahminism with the images of Vishnu currently on display at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
According to ANA, the pillar is rectangular, 122 cm high, 58 cm wide, 45 cm thick, and weighs more than a half-tonne. On its four sides, there are 1,008 small meditation Buddha statues. At the top and bottom, there are some damages, with the surface of the stone having cracks and there are Naga head carvings on the top of the four corners.
National and international tourists are welcome to learn more about the stone pillars, as well as many other Buddhist sculptures on display at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse