What is Apsara?

Apsaras are the celestial female dancers in Hindu & Buddhist mythology. The elegant dancers can be found carved into ancient temples throughout South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

The famous French archaeologist Henri Parmentier counted over seventeen thousand Apsaras in Angkor Wat. He once commented "to some observers the celestial dancers seem affected and monotonous, to me they are Grace personified, the highest expression of femininity ever conceived by the human mind."

Below are images of some of the Apsara's from the Cambodian temples of Angkor Wat, The Bayon & Preah Khan.

 

Please take a moment to visit The Cambodian Children's Fund website.

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, The Bayon, Cambodia

 

Apsara, Preah Khan, Cambodia