A close up look at ancient paintings discovered by Singaporean on Angkor Wat temples

Another digitally enhanced painting of a boat found on the north wall of the second enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Enhanced painting of elephants found in the south entrance chamber of the first enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Black drawing of a zoomorph with scales and multiple legs, found in the south entrance chamber of the first enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Black line drawing of Hanuman, the monkey king, found at the south entrance chamber of the first enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Line painting of a figure with hands set in a praying position, possibly a preliminary sketch of an apsara, a celestial nymph from Hindu mythology. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Painting of a stepped pyramid structure in the south entrance chamber of the third enclosure, possibly a depiction of Angkor Wat itself.  -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Possible depiction of a Buddhist stupa in the south entrance chamber of the first enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

A pinpeat or Khmer orchestral ensemble, consisting of various gongs and drums, in the south entrance chamber of the first enclosure. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

A painting of a boat on the outer wall of Angkor Wat. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

This map of Angkor Wat pinpoints the locations of paintings described in archaeologist Noel Hidalgo Tan's paper which was published in June.  -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN AND ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS

Noel Hidalgo Tan in Angkor Wat back in June 2012 helping out at an excavation effort. -- PHOTO: NOEL HIDALGO TAN

Melody Zaccheus

Housing and Heritage Correspondent

Updated

Published

Jun 18, 2014, 06:51 PM

Take a closer look at some of the never-before-seen paintings of deities, animals and musical instruments on the walls of the temple of Angkor Wat which were discovered by Singaporean archaeologist Noel Hidalgo Tan, 35.

The paintings come from a time when the Unesco World Heritage site underwent a transformation from a Hindu temple to a Buddhist one under 16th century leader King Ang Chan.

His discovery is detailed in a paper called "The hidden paintings of Angkor Wat" which was published earlier in June.

The Angkor Archaeological Park in northern Cambodia was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1992. It is home to the temple of Angkor Wat and holds the remains of the Khmer Empire.

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A close up look at ancient paintings discovered by Singaporean on Angkor Wat temples

The Straits Times