Prambanan Temple Compounds
(1991)
Indonesia
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Built in the 10th century, this is the largest temple compound dedicated to
Shiva in Indonesia.
Rising above the centre of the last of these concentric
squares are three temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana,
dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and
three temples dedicated to the animals who serve them.
- Indonesia 1999. Close-up of the stamp from the sheet.
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The Prambanan Temples form the largest temple complex on the Indonesian
island of Java. Constructed around AD 900, the compound was deserted soon after
it was completed, possibly due to the eruption of nearby Mount Merapi.
- Indonesia 1999. Souvenir sheet issued for PHILEXFRANCE '99,
featuring the Prambanan Temple Compound against the Eiffel Tower in
Paris.
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The temples were restored in 1953 and now form one of the world’s great
Hindu shrines. There are 224 temples in total, but the site is dominated by the
imposing figures of the three main temples: the Brahma Temple, the Vishnu Temple
and the Shiva Temple. From May to October, the Ramayana Ballet, a
traditional Indonesian dance based on the Hindu epic, is performed at the
open-air theatre.
Sources and links:
Other World Heritage Sites in Indonesia (on this site). Inactive links are not
described on postage stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing,
section Indonesia for further information about the individual
properties.
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Revised 21 jul 2006
Copyright © 1999 Heindorffhus
All Rights Reserved
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