Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Scholar Thomas Maxwell, known for his expertise in Khmer history, dies in Siem Reap aged 74

Scholar Thomas Maxwell, known for his expertise in Khmer history, dies in Siem Reap aged 74

Scholar of ancient Indian and Khmer history Thomas Maxwell (L), pictured with his wife Khieu Sreypov and nephew. Photo supplied
Scholar of ancient Indian and Khmer history Thomas Maxwell (L), pictured with his wife Khieu Sreypov and nephew. Photo supplied

Scholar Thomas Maxwell, known for his expertise in Khmer history, dies in Siem Reap aged 74

Thomas Maxwell, a noted scholar of ancient Indian and Khmer history and culture, died of heart failure at his home in Siem Reap town Sunday last week, colleagues and family confirmed today. He was 74.

Born in England, Maxwell would go on to study at the University of London, and by the end of his life picked up fluency in Hindi, German, French, Khmer and ancient Khmer.

Peter Sharrock of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies expressed praise for Maxwell’s work as scholar.

“His 1997 book The Gods of Asia: Image, Text and Meaning, is a classic because of its lucid descriptions of the identities, mythologies and iconographies of the interlinked multitude of gods in Hinduism,” Sharrock said.

Prior to taking up teaching at the University of Bonn in Germany, Maxwell worked at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, according to Sharrock. From Bonn he began annual visits to Cambodia, and was a key contributor to the noted 2007 anthology Bayon: New Perspectives.

After retiring from Bonn after two decades, he settled in Siem Reap in 2008 but continued to contribute to academia until 2015, translating ancient inscriptions from Banteay Chhmar and Preah Khan temples.

There he married his second wife, Khieu Sreypov, 40, in 2006.

Maxwell’s death, along with the recent passing of several other high-profile historians who shaped the view of Cambodian history, marks the “end of an era”, said Ashley Thompson, chair of the London school's Centre for Southeast Asian Studies.

“Without forgetting the singularity of each of these men, it must be said that together, and with many others still among us, they shaped visions of Cambodian history shared by many today,” she wrote.

Described by his acquaintances as highly solitary and quiet, Maxwell’s brother-law Khieu Thy recalled him as “always smiling, friendly, funny and gentle but takes his work seriously”.

He is survived by his widow Sreypov, his ex-wife Jenni Maxwell, and twin sons from his first marriage Jay and Lee. A traditional Khmer funeral will occur at his home in Siem Reap through March 2, and his cremation is scheduled for Thursday.

Additional reporting by Ouk Suntharoth

The original version of this article misstated Thomas Maxwell’s nationality. He is in fact British. This article has been updated with additional biographical details about Maxwell obtained after the original publication.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.