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iii. Prambanan Temple Compounds, pages 127 - 199 Prambanan Temple Compounds were built next to Borobudur between 8th and 10th century, during the heyday of Sailendra’s powerful Hindu dynasty in Java. It is the largest temple compound in Indonesia dedicated to Shiva. There are at least 500 temples of varying scales surrounding three giant monuments at the centre. Each of these monuments is based on con- centric squares and decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana, dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and the three temples dedicated to the animals who serve them. These reliefs are masterpieces of stone carvings. Beside the three major monuments are hundreds of shrines showing high levels of stone building technology and architec- ture of the time in Java. Significantly, the Pramba- nan Temple Compounds, together with its neighbour, the Budhist Borobudur Temple, demonstrate the peaceful coexistence of different religeons, going beyond their architectural and cultural values. A spectacular view of Prambanan Temples is seen during the evening sun- set, when the silhouette of the Temples is contrusted with the backdrop of firing volcano Gunung Merapi (Firing Mountain). Our day concluded with an open air dinner and an unforgetable traditional Javanese folk theatre performance, the Ramayana ballet. 127
