At Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh, this vivid bas‑relief of apsara‑like devata commemorates the “Return of the Provinces” to Cambodia in 1907, after the Franco‑Siamese Treaty restored Battambang, Sisophon, and Siem Reap to the Khmer kingdom. Their jeweled crowns, flowing sampot, and ritual offerings evoke a timeless procession that turns a geopolitical milestone into sacred memory woven into stone and color. Framed by ornate stucco and soft greenery, the scene links modern Phnom Penh to Angkorian heritage, celebrating resilience, faith, and the reunified Cambodian heartland.
