The head of state visited the Temple, considered one of the richest archaeological sites on the island of Sumatra, in the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Culture and Tourism Minister Jerwo Wacik, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono and a number of other ministers, Jambi Governor Hasan Basri Agus, and several local officials.
President Yudhoyono arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day working visit until Friday, and the visit to Muarojambi Temple is part of his agenda.
According to Wikipedia, the eight temple-like structures appear to be Buddhist, and were probably built around the 14th century.
Archaeologists conclude that the site was the center of Old Jambi, the capital of ancient Malay kingdom which reigned supreme about ten centuries ago.
The capital was sieged and destroyed in 1377 by armies from Burma, now Myanmar.
For centuries, the site had been lost and forgotten deep in the jungle, only to be rediscovered in 1920 by a British military expedition team.
Muara Jambi temple complex covers an area of 12 km2, along the side of Batanghari river.
There are eight main temples in the complex, all of them are located in the center area, fortified by walls. Three of them are already renovated.
In 1982, a 32-centimeters tall female bronze statue was found at Koto Kandis, in the Muara Sabak sub district.
It is believed to be the goddess Laksmi, holding a lotus bud in her left.
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Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
