Prambanan Hindu Temple from the 9th century. Java

Rakai Pikatan, a descendant of King Sanjaya rose to power on Java.
He began construction of Prambanan in 856 AD.

This holiest compound is assembled of eight main candi. The three main shrines, called Trimurti, are dedicated to the three gods: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper, and Shiva the Destroyer. There are also 224 individual small shrines.

The complex was abandoned in the 1oth century when the Mataram court and most of the population moved to East Java, and the temples themselves collapsed during an earthquake in the 16th century.

In the 19th century Dutch residents carried off sculptures for garden ornaments while local villagers used foundation stones for construction material. Proper restoration began only in 1930 and continues today.

All complex can be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available.

The highest structure of Prambanan is Candi of Shiva. The shrine is 47 meters high. Its inner balustrade is decorated with reliefs from Ramayana epos.

The Shiva Candi contains 4 small chambers in every cardinal direction and one bigger main chamber in central part of the temple.

The supporting buildings for the temple complex were made from organic material and no remains are survived.