Khmer Empire or Angkor Empire was one of the most influential empires in Southeast Asia. This splendor can be seen by the vast expanse of land which was full of amazing stone temples and carvings.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page posted a photo of an ancient bell on social media and claimed that it was the bell during the Angkor era. This claim has been shared by social media users thousands of times.
However, Fact Crescendo Cambodia’s investigation and verification found that the claim along with the above photo is false.
Social Media Claim
On November 05, 2018, a Facebook page called “រឿងពិតក្នុងសង្គម” has posted a photo showing a large ancient bell. This Facebook page also stated in its post that it was the Angkor Empire’s bell. The photo attached to this claim has been reacted with mixed comments and reshared on social media many times.
A screenshot captured the claim in Khmer language translated in English as “During the Angkor period of this once, but it was lost . Please share if you love and conservative it for our country’s image”.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia has started its own investigation of this claim above by running a Google Reverse Image search which led us to some reliable sources with the exact locations as follows.
An exact photo match showing this large ancient bell was found on Alamy website, a supplier of stock images, editorial photography, video and music. This website also confirmed the details of the location in English as “The Great Bell at Mingun”.
A snapshot photo taken from the above website has shown the view of an ancient bell in Myanmar.
Alamy Stock Photo | Archived Link
Another photo of the same ancient bell was also found on the Alamy website which was described in French as “La cloche de Mingun, Myanmar” or translated in English as “The bell in Mingun, Myanmar”.
Alamy Stock Photo | Archived Link
This photo has also been published on a local news website in Myanmar, The Irrawaddy, on April 29, 2020, with an article reporting in English as “When Myanmar Made One of the Largest Bells in the World”.
In the same article above, it also mentioned “The bell was one of the “four great noble deeds” by King Bodawpaya, the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty, and was dedicated to the Mingun Pahtodawgyi, a stupa monument which was left incomplete after the king’s death.” which we could identify its exact location and history of this ancient bell.
The Irrawaddy’s Report | Archived Link
Where is this large ancient bell today?
This large ancient bell is being kept inside the Mingun pagoda, which is now located in Mingun town, approximately 11 kilometers from Mandalay, Myanmar.
Below here is the screenshot captured from Alamy website stated in English as «Weighing about 90 tons and reputed to be the largest uncracked bell in the world (a larger one in Moscow is cracked), the Mingun Bell was cast in 1808 by King Bodawpaya for the Mingun Pagoda, which was never completed. Location: Mingun Bell, Mingun, Mandalay Region, Myanmar».
Alamy Stock Photo | Archived Link
Fact Crescendo Cambodia also found this ancient bell located in Mingun, Myanmar in Google Map as well.
A screenshot from the Google Map showing the bell being kept inside the Mingun pagoda, Myanmar.
Follow Us and Stay Up to Date with Our latest Fact Checks.
Facebook Twitter Telegram Google News
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia have found out that the above-mentioned social media claims are false. This giant bell was actually made during the King Bodawpaya, which is now kept in Mingun pagoda, Mingun, Myanmar.
