Multiple 11th Century “Door Guardian” Statues Unearthed at Angkor Thom

Archaeologists digging at one of the world’s most visited complexes of ancient ruins and structures recently made what they termed as a “remarkable discovery.” While performing exploratory excavations at the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia, home of the famous temple of Angkor Wat, the archaeologists unearthed a dozen sandstone statues known as “door guardians” that are believed to be approximately 1,000 years old.

The Angkor statues were discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Aspara National Authority (ANA), working in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor (CSA). They were found just a few days ago buried near the north gate leading into the 11th century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, which was the last capital of the Khmer Empire.

These statues were made to sit alongside doors or gateways leading into important buildings, which is why archaeologists refer to them as “door guardians.”

Earlier this autumn, it created quite a stir in the archaeological community in Southeast Asia when just one of these door guardians, which are also known as dvarpala, was found buried next to a gate in the archaeological park’s Banteay Prei Temple. But this time archaeologists involved in the ongoing excavations at the site have hit the proverbial jackpot, unearthing 12 of these precious statues that have great religious and spiritual significance in the Hindu religion.

The Door Guardians are Characters from Hindu Mythology

At the time of this rare and astonishing discovery, the Cambodian and Chinese archaeologists were assessing the northern gate’s architectural structure, while also searching for fallen stones from the city walls. They began digging in the area, not really expecting to find anything, which is why they were shocked when they began to unearth the ancient sandstone statues, one after another. The statues were buried at different depths, with the last one being excavated from about 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) below the ground.

There was some variance in size between the statues. The smallest door guardians were about 39 inches (100 centimeters or one meter) tall, while the largest measured about 43 inches (110 centimeters) in height. Several of the statues were in quite good shape, and one interesting aspect of their appearance is that they all depicted unique characters with somewhat different features. According to Cambodian archaeologist Sorn Chanthorn, one of the lead researchers at the site, their facial hair ornaments in particular were all different, which gave each of the door guardians a distinctive appearance.

One of the four gates that lead into the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor Thom. (Diego Delso/CC BY-SA 3.0).

It was possible to date the dvarpalas based on their design specifications.

“Experts believe these door guardian statues exemplify the Khneang Style, aligning with the construction period of the 11th-century palace,” the Apsara National Authority stated in a press release.

The door guardians are characters from the “Churning of the Ocean Milk” Hindu creation myth. They were routinely placed at the entrances of important buildings or cities in ancient times, with one on each side representing the forces of good and evil, symbolizing the eternal battle between the Hindu gods (devas) and demons (asuras) for supremacy.

The mythological struggle they act out is referenced in all of the ancient temples in the archaeological park, and consequently the door guardians would have been seen as sacred objects in and of themselves.

Exploring the Heart of the Mighty Khmer Empire

The sprawling complex of temples, statues, and other structures that comprise the Angkor Archaeological Park covers approximately 155 square miles, or 400 square kilometers. It includes both Angkor Thom, the final capital of the mighty Khmer Empire that ruled the lands of northern Cambodia from 802 to 1431, and the more famous city of Angkor, which was the original Khmer capital and the home of the Angkor Wat temple.

The Bayon temple complex in Angkor Thom in the Angkor Archaeological Park. (Diego Delso/CC BY-SA 3.0).

Angkor Thom was established as the capital of the Khmer Empire by the 12th century emperor Jayavarman VII, who was the first Khmer emperor who openly identified as a Buddhist. Inside his capital city, which was constructed over and around an existing settlement, the powerful ruler constructed the awesome Bayon temple complex, a mountain-like edifice that featured 54 towers adorned with four faces that depicted various representations of either the king himself or the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara.

It should be noted that the door guardians were flexible creations. They would have been accepted and their purpose understood by ancient Buddhists just as readily as by Hindus, and the newly unearthed statues found near the northern entrance to Angkor Thom might very well have been placed there by followers of either faith.

In an interview excerpt published in Cambodia’s Khmer Times, ANA Deputy Director General Kim Sothin said that the buried door guardian statues had suffered various fates.

“Some statues collapsed due the effects of time and nature, while others were damaged by war,” he stated. “Many feel into disrepair over the centuries, ultimately being covered by soil.”

Now that the statues have been recovered, they will be restored and put on public display at the Angkor Archaeological Park, starting in the spring of 2025.

Top image: Three of the 12 statues recently recovered during excavations at Angkor Thom.   

Source: Aspara National Authority

By Nathan Falde