Ta Prohm, an abandoned temple situated near Angkor Wat, was built in the late 12th century. Originally called Rajavihara, this mysterious site was constructed by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII to serve as a Buddhist monastery and university. After the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century, Ta Prohm was abandoned and consumed by jungle for centuries. ¶Efforts to restore Ta Prohm by the French government in the early 20th century seemed hopeless, and it was generally left in the state in which it was found, although stabilized for the safety of research teams and visitors. It represents one of the best examples of a man-made structure that has merged with the natural environment that surrounds it. I was particularly fascinated by the haphazard synthesis of post and lintel structures caught in the embrace of gigantic trees which provide support for the architecture while also engaged in its destruction.