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Ratu Boko | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | candi, fortified settlement complex |
Town or city | near Yogyakarta (city), Yogyakarta |
Country | Indonesia |
Coordinates | 7°46′12″S 110°29′20″E / 7.77000°S 110.48889°E |
Completed | circa 9th century |
Client | Sailendra or Mataram Kingdom |
Ratu Boko (Javanese: ꦫꦠꦸꦧꦏ, romanized: Ratu Baka) or Ratu Boko Palace (Javanese: ꦏꦣꦠꦺꦴꦤ꧀ꦫꦠꦸꦧꦏ, romanized: Kadhaton Ratu Baka) is an archaeological site in Java. Ratu Boko is located on a plateau, about three kilometres south of Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The original name of this site is still unclear, however the local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king mentioned in Roro Jonggrang folklore.[1] In Javanese, Ratu Boko means "Stork King".
The site covers 16 hectares in two hamlets (Dawung and Sambireja) of the village of Bokoharjo and Prambanan, Sleman Regency. In striking contrast to other Classic-period sites in Central Java and Yogyakarta, which are remains of Hindu temples, Ratu Boko displays attributes of an occupation or settlement site, although its precise function is unknown.[2] Probably the site was a palace complex which belonged to the Shailendra dynasty or Mataram Kingdom that also built temples scattered across the Prambanan Plain. The argument was based on the fact that this complex was not a temple nor a building with a religious nature, but a fortified palace instead which is evidence of a remnant of fortified walls and the dry moat of defensive structures.[3] The remains of settlements were also found in Ratu Boko's vicinity. This site is located 196 m above sea level. On the highest point in the site, there is a small pavilion with a panoramic view of Prambanan with Mount Merapi as the background.