PHNOM PENH, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's APSARA National Authority (ANA) has reattached the heads of two ancient deity statues at Angkor Thom's Victory Gate, located within the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, according to an ANA news release on Friday.
The traditional ritual, part of the Returning Spirits to Their Original Sites campaign, took place on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona and UNESCO Representative to Cambodia Flavio Bonetti, alongside Buddhist monks who were invited to chant and bless the statues.
Sackona highlighted the profound cultural and historical significance of the event. She explained that the Victory Gate served as a vital ceremonial site where Khmer kings traditionally conducted major royal rituals, including coronations and military departures.
The restoration of the deity and asura (demon) sculptures not only enhances the site's beauty but also helps restore an important part of Cambodia's cultural heritage for future generations and visitors, she said.
A total of 108 devas (gods) and asuras line the approach to the Victory Gate, representing the Hindu myth of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Over the centuries, particularly during periods of conflict, many of these sandstone heads were lost or scattered both within Cambodia and abroad, the news release said.
Built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom was the grand capital of the ancient Khmer Empire. Its enclosure wall extends roughly three kilometers on each side, stands approximately eight meters high, and is surrounded by a moat. Five monumental gates provide access to the ancient city.
Through long-standing cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the ANA, and international partners including UNESCO, many of the missing heads have been recovered. Some were found through archaeological excavations, while others were recovered from international collections.
To date, almost all of the missing heads have been recovered. Only three remain in museums abroad, and efforts are continuing to facilitate their return to Cambodia and, ultimately, to their original locations, the news release said.
Bonetti expressed his appreciation for the ceremony, describing it as an important act of respect for Khmer culture and its World Heritage significance.
The Returning Spirits to Their Original Sites campaign reflects Cambodia's peaceful and secure environment, which allows heritage custodians to successfully reunite these historic sculptures with their original locations. ■
