Cambodia: A smiling apsara at Angkor Wat - this apsara is the only one out of almost two thousand at Angkor Wat who is showing her teeth (11th century)

In 1927, Sappho Marchal, the 23-year-old daughter of Henri Marchal who was over­seeing restoration of monuments at Angkor Wat at the time, published a book on the hair­styles, clothes and jewelry of 1,737 images of various apsara she had recorded on the walls and columns of Angkor Wat. It remains probably the most complete account of the many apsara, thevada and other celestial females at Angkor Wat to the present day.

Only one of the 1,737 apsara is smiling and showing her teeth. She is located on the inner side of the west portico, just south of the gopuram, almost concealed behind the gateway. It is now generally accepted that many of the apsara represented or were otherwise based upon real women of the Angkor court, but the reason for the - slightly bizarre - toothy grin remains a mystery.

Perhaps one of the Angkor stonemasons was in the mood to create something different for a change, or perhaps he had a real earthly maiden in mind - or on his mind.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Rustam (PD)

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

ANCIENT ANGKOR