Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the iconographic evidence of naval warfare in Angkor from the temples of Bayon and Banteay Chmar.

Paper long abstract:

The natural environment of Angkor is an amphibious landscape where boats ought to have been just as relevant as other forms of land transport. This is reflected in the large number of nautical panels represented in the bas-reliefs of the temples, particularly toward the 12th century. The scenes represent a variety of activities, from festivals to parades. Violence is also depicted; two large panels showing nautical warfare in Angkor can be found in the temples of Banteay Chmar and Bayon. Both images depict the Angkorian forces overpowering their enemies; boarding and sinking their ships employing tactics that suggest a recurrence of this type of nautical events. Recent conservation work done in the Bayon has brought to light further details of the carvings that need to be integrated into our current knowledge on the matter. This paper will re-examine the traditional boundaries attributed to the scenes, particularly that of the Bayon, and will discuss military advancements in nautical technology and the organization of the Angkorian fleet.